University  of 

IRVIN: 


INTELLECTUAL  PEOPLE 


BY 

WILLIAM  ADOLPIIUS  CLARK. 


BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED   BY   THE   AUTHOR. 

1885. 


S^7 


Copyright,  by 

WILLIAM  ADOLPHUS  CLARK, 
z88j. 


INTELLECTUAL  PEOPLE. 


"Ye  swell  ag  though  ye  had  conceived  some  great  matter; 
but,  as  for  that  which  ye  are  delivered  of,  who  knoweth  it 
not?"  — JOB. 


CULTURE. 

My  theme  is  culture,  and  the  cultured  mind, 
Which  looks  with  pity  on  the  common  hind  ; 
Assumes  the  air  of  Fortune's  favored  ones, 
And  through  this  life  with  self-assertion  runs  ; 
Be  mine  the  task,  however  sad  to  do, 
To  bring  my  subject  clearly  to  the  view ; 
Ignoring  Fear  and  all  its  trembling  train, 
As  I  go  through  the  classic  and  the  vain. 


2  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

From  early  life  I  'vc  loved  to  think  how  pure, 

The  mountain  streams  which  "  to  old  Ocean  pour ; " 

I  've  loved  to  look  upon  the  crystal  clear, 

On  beauty's  cheek  to  note  the  beamy  tear ; 

I  've  loved  to  gaze  upon  the  moon's  bright  face, 

As  she  her  course  pursues  through  vaulted  space  ; 

I  've  loved  in  stillness,  through  the  breathless  night, 

To  watch  the  planets  in  their  steady  flight ; 

I  've  loved  to  look  upon  the  flaky  snow  ; 

Upon  the  babe's  soft  eyes,  its  stainless  brow ; 

I  've  loved  amid  the  forests  oft  to  roam  ; 

I  've  loved,  at  sea,  to  watch  its  sparkling  foam  ; 

I  've  loved  to  note  the  dolphins  at  their  play  ; 

The  twilight  fade  at  morn  and  eve  away  ; 

And  on  the  land,  amid  its  fruitful  fields, 

To  view  its  charms,  and  all  which  harvest  }-ields. 


CULTURE.  3 

And  why?  because  delicious  is  the  sense 

Of  gentle  truth  and  sweetest  innocence. 

I  've  loved  to  think  that  man  might  be  as  pure, 

Through  culture's  care,  and  learning's  varied  store ; 

But  years  have  swept  the  fond  conceit  away, 

I  see  that  Virtue  's  something  as  a  play ! 

I  see  that  goodness  dwells  alike  with  «#, 

That  it's  a  part  of  both  the  great  and  small ; 

That  none  are  better  than  they  ought  to  "be, 

Or  love  too  well,  0  Christ,  to  follow  Thee ! 

Then,  come  sweet  spirit  of  the  art  of  song, 
Whose  home  is  where  there  never  can  be  wrong, 
Assist  my  strain  and  aid  me  to  portray, 
ITow  vice  in  culture  holds  too  often  sway ; 
Make  clear  my  mind  to  see  the  human  soul, 


4  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

In  all  its  subtle  working  for  control ; 

Give  me  the  courage  to  la}"  bare  the  ways 

"The  classic"  take  in  their  wild  rush  for  praise  / 

Then  shall  I  show  unto  my  fellow  man, 

That  life  is  mean,  though  based  on  culture's  plan. 

When  from  the  womb  the  infant  moves  to  light, 
To  grow  in  strength  for  either  wrong  or  right, 
Came  it  among  a  race  of  beings  true, 
Culture  would  prompt  it  nothing  vile  to  do  ; 
But  as  it  grows  to  think,  to  act  a  part, 
It  gathers  knowledge,  and  corrupts  the  heart ; 
While  in  that  brain  is  stored  vast  sums  of  lore, 
In  morals,  manners,  is  the  creature  poor ; 
'T  is  taught  the  classics,  natural  laws  acquire, 
Ethics  engages,  but  with  less  desire  ; 


CULTURE.  O 

Religion  does,  perhaps,  excite  some  glow 

Of  curiosit}*  its  truths  to  know, 

Yet,  so  much  else  there  is  the  pride  to  please, 

Religion's  courted  only  at  their  ease. 

'T  is  Culture's  policy  to  wing  the  wit, 

To  scale  ambition's  lofty  minaret ! 

To  worship  only  at  the  shrine  of  pride, 

To  shrewdly  float  on  Knowledge's  sunny  tide. 

The  moral  sense,  though  trained  the  right  to  hold 

In  schools  and  colleges,  itself  will  fold 

In  close  retirement,  when  the  mind  may  be 

Planning  and  working,  vanity,  for  thee ! 

The  sacred  rights  of  others  are  laid  low ; 

Learning  makes  possible,  directs  the  Mow! 

For  it  will  do  far  meaner  acts  than  those, 

Who  little  else  than  honest  impulse  knows ; 


6  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

That  force  which  "  common  things"  ennobles  more, 

Than  all  a  Bacon's  genius  with  his  lore. 

Yes,  honest  impulse  !  that  is  much  your  need, 

Ye  cultured  swindlers  of  every  breed  ; 

If  ye  have  learned  all  languages  to  speak, 

Have  gone  through  Science,    and   through  Latin, 

Greek, 

As  Pascal,  learned  all  —  all  there  is  to  know, 
But  not  as  Pascal,  bowed  in  solemn  woe  !  — 
What  boots  your  knowledge  if  you  love  to  lie, 
To  cozen  ignorance  and  laws  defy  !  — 
If  teems  your  brain  with  polished  vice,  to  grind 
Whoever  meets  with  your  "  accomplished  mind"  ; 
If  for  a  debt  you  owe  you  '11  slay  by  art, 
Reduce  through  chemistry  the  human  part, 
Then  to  the  wave  consign  the  mellow  mass, 


CULTURE.  7 

Concealment  seeking  for  the  crime  —  alas  !  — 

What  boots,  I  say,  your  culture,  if  3*our  deeds 

Keep  morals  weeping —  ever  in  its  weeds. 

Yet,  so  it  does,  in  cases  not  a  few  — 

Scholastic  rascals  ever  are  in  view  ! 

When  in  the  bookstores,  they  will  steal  so  sly 

None  can  detect  them  but  an  expert  eye ; 

So,  too,  the}-  '11  steal  a  brother  author's  brains, 

To  lard  their  writings  and  increase  their  gains. 

No  thieves  are  there  so  mean  as  such  who  teach 

What's  well  to  practise,  and  what's  well  to  preach ; 

Oft  will  their  efforts  stir  the  studious  crowd 

To  flattering  praise,  and  plaudits  long  and  loud  ; 

Yet,  will  they  sin  as  serves  to  deck  their  wit ; 

Lie  right  and  left,  where  lying  seems  to  fit ; 

They  grow  in  grace  no  faster  than  may  suit 


8  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Ambition's  ends,  and  all  its  vain  jmrsidts  ! 

Ye  sons  of  knowledge,  and  ye  daughters,  too, 

This  may  I  say  in  perfect  truth  of  you. 

Ah,  well,  what  of  it,  since  't  is  right  to  be 

Guided  by  conscience,  which  is  ever  free  ; 

Free  to  contract,  and  then  expand  ln~  turns. 

As  matters  go,  and  classic  daily  learns  ; 

For  who,  oh,  who  can  live  b}-  truth  alone^ 

Or  kiss  the  hand  that  throws  to  it  a  bone  ; 

Who,  human,  can  his  cultured  head  recline, 

And  feel  the  bread  he  eats  is  bread  divine? 

Do  the}-  not  know  "of  intellect  complete," 

The  dirtiest  morals  get  for  them  their  meat? 

Do  they  not  know  that  classes  they  despise 

Are  far  more  honest,  though  perhaps  less  wise  ? 

They  speak  not  Greek,  nor  Newton's  Princepts  ken. 


CULTURE. 

Not  cultured  women  they,  nor  cultured  men  ; 
They  cannot  split  the  glorious  right  in  two, 
By  polished  sophistry,  as  oft  will  you  ; 
Their  minds  untutored  in  the  ways  of  lore, 
Are  barren  deemed,  and,  as  their  pockets,  poor; 
Yet,  many  have  an  honest  love  of  truth, 
You  Ve  somewhat  slighted  from  your  early  youth. 
As  to  3'our  brain,  from  3*ear  to  year  has  crept 
The  learning  which,  alone,  can  make  adept, 
In  all  those  paths  where  figures  go  one  way, 
And  that  as  culture,  right  or  wrong,  ma}-  say, 
The  cause  of  truth  has  gradual  ceased  to  be, 
Naught  but  a  plaything,  classic,  unto  thee  ! 
I  know  not,  I,  why  thus  should  run  to  seed 
The  moral  sense,  as  more  the  mind  we  feed  ; 
Yet,  so  it  is /  the  knavish  mostly  now, 


10  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Bear  polished  intellect  upon  their  brow  ; 
Stupendous  frauds,  stupendous  crimes  abound, 
Too  oft  with  those  where  cultured  grace  is  found  ! 
The  petty  thieves,  the  petty  vile  are  those, 
Linked  but  to  poverty  and  all  its  woes ; 
Who  are  imprisoned,  while  the  genteel  knave, 
Oft  with  success  will  judge  and  juiy  brave. 
Crime  seems  to  lose  its  dark  and  hideous  face, 
When  classic  minds  may  wear  it  in  Life's  race. 
That  this  is  so,  e'en  they  who  run  may  read ; 
Culture  to  culture's  aid  will  surel}'  speed  ! 
Thus  have  we  doved- tailed,  wits  in  specious  wrong, 
Borne  by  the  force  of  sympathy  along  ; 
Living  as  best  they  may  on  doubtful  law, 
Their  conscience  worth  not  e'en  a  wisp  of  straw. 
Ah,  well,  what  of  it,  pray  ;  is  it  not  fair 


CULTURE.  11 

That  intellectual  loorth  should  have  our  care? 
Be  treated  kindly,  though  in  most  things  mean, 
So  rarely  just,  preferring  the  unclean  f 
]>ut  I  could  never  see  why  Culture's  grace, 
Should  from  her  seat  sweet  justice  e'er  displace  ; 
No  less  is  crime,  because  the  culprit's  brain, 
Sparkles  with  knowledge,  either  sound  or  vain. 
I  'd  to  the  hempen  give  whoever  kills, 
To  prison  send  who  deeds  felonious  wills  ; 
Nor  would  I  care  how  learned  the  felon  caught, 
The  more  he  "knew  would  sterner  make  m}-  thought. 
Culture  should  crimes  reduce  and  not  increase, 
Should  give  society  e'en  greater  peace  ; 
In  place  of  which,  there  is  a  constant  dread 
Of  startling  outrage  from  the  poorly  fed  ; 
None  feel  secure,  and  those  au  fait  at  life, 


12  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Most  fear  the  passions  of  its  active  strife. 
Religion  but  a  partial  check  supplies  ; 
Accomplished  rogues    "put    through"    what    they 

devise ; 

And  see  no  punishment  for  them  but  law 
Our  courts  administer  —  too  oft  but  straw  — 
A  dubious  slippery  thing,  the  wisest  say, 
Damning  more  justice  in  its  beaten  wa}T 
Than  e'er  was  saved,  with  all  its  fervid  glow 
Of  classic  lore,  and  ermine  white  as  snow. 
What  then  arc  courts,  if  culture  does  not  arm 
The  judge  with  conscience,  his  abiding  charm? 
The}'  are  the  slauylitcr-houscs  of  the  weak  ; 
"Where  wrong  and  power  dare  'gainst  right  to  speak, 
And  speak  successfully  by  subtle  art, 
"Which  there  appears,  to  do  its  hireling  part ; 


CULTURE.  13 

To  gain  a  case,  perhaps,  which  the}-  should  not, 
Were  justice  better  loved  and  ne'er  forgot. 
Lawyers  will  work  for  what  the}-  call  a  fee, 
While  ' '  strictly  right "  is  hard  for  them  to  see  ; 
Their  heartless  arguments,  on  culture  based, 
Too  often  are  by  legal  genius  graced  ; 
They  '11  skin  the  client  and  they  '11  blind  the  court ; 
Their  wit,  like  other  things,  is  easy  bought ; 
If  goes  the  case  against  them,  let  it  go ; 
What  cares  the  counsel  for  his  client's  woe ; 
His  pay  's  in  hand  !  e'er  long  he  may  appear 
Against  that  client,  to  renew  the  tear ! 
These  are  our  friends  at  law ;  that  cultured  band 
Of  sharp  logicians,  who  but  take  our  hand 
To  take  our  purse,  and  often  lose  our  rights, 
Heedless  who  suffers,  whom  their  culture  blights ! 


14  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Of  all  the  mean,  the  dirty  ways  of  life, 

None  can  exceed  the  bar's  accursed  strife  ; 

"Where  far  too  many,  "  sound  in  legal  lore," 

In  generous  action  are  supremely  poor. 

Once  in  a  while  a  case  is  fairl}'  tried ; 

The  rules  which  govern  squarely  are  applied ; 

But  most  who  litigate  to  get  their  dues, 

More  than  one  half  of  what  the}-  claim  will  lose  ! 

These  noble  classics,  these  high  cultured  minds, 

Against  society  their  wit  combines  ; 

And  that  which  should  to  all  a  shield  be  found, 

By  wit  is  broken,  trampled  to  the  ground ! 

The  law,  which  every  one  should  highly  prize, 

The  greater  part  have  reason  to  desjrise ! 

Their  rights  uncertain  are,  they  see  it  so, 

And  look  on  courts  as  sources  foul  of  woe  ; 


CULTURE.  15 

They  see  false  culture  there,  perverted  wit. 
And  meanness,  often,  where  should  honor  sit ; 
They  know  the  longest  purse  will  win  the  cause  ; 
And  sneering  say  —  "  such,  such,  are  human  laws." 
'Oh,  is  it  strange  when  intellect  delights, 
To  make  a  chaos  of  dear  human  rights, 
And  jurisprudence,  science  so  divine  ! 
To  gross  absurdities  and  rules  incline, 
That  those  "unlearned  in  law,"  but  loving  truth, 
Brand  law  satanic  and  the  bane  of  youth  ? 
Cursing  the  culture  which  makes  little  clear, 
While  burdening  life  with  many  a  bitter  tear  — 
Oh,  is  it  strange  that  sometimes  they  will  feel, 
The  sense  of  outrage  to  their  bosoms  steal, 
As  see  the}*  learning  with  the  devil  leagued, 
Unto  the  false  with  eager  footsteps  speed ; 


16  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Through  which  our  world  is  made  a  fervent  hell,. 
Where  Virtue  sighs  to  think  it  here  must  dwell? 
That  this  is  so,  the  dullest  may  observe  ; 
Culture  does  not  the  cause  of  honor  serve; 
"Well,  granted  that  't  is  thus,"  Atrides  says, 
Who  aims  to  figure  in  false  culture's  ways  ; 
*•  What  if  the  right  and  wrong  are  somewhat  mixed. 

o  o 

What  if  in  law  there  's  much  which  can't  be  fixed? 

Contention  ever  was  the  life  of  man, 

Make  it  ought  else,  O  virtue,  if  you  can ; 

The  greatest  pleasure,  contradiction  gives  ; 

It  is  the  zest,  main  spring  of  human  lives  ; 

What,  would  you  have  a  calm  from  day  to  day, 

And  wear  your  life  so  stupidly  away  ? 

What,  would  you  have  the  law  so  very  plain, 

You  've  but  to  state  your  case  and  score  your  gain  ? 


CULTURE.  17 

Methinks,  'tis  better,  as  we  have  it  now ; 

That  none  with  certaint}'  the  Law  should  know. 

Right 's  but  a  shadow,  justice  but  a  dream, 

Law  is  the  plaything  of  a  wit  supreme  ; 

What 's  low  must  suffer,  that  the  high  may  be 

Admired  the  more  as.  Genius,  born  of  thee ! 

We  lawyers  like  uncertainty,  't  will  drive 

The  legal  mind  to  stud}',  and  to  thrive  ; 

That  is  the  source  from  whence  our  riches  flow, 

That  is  the  practice  of  the  law,  you  know." 

So  spoke  Atrides  with  a  bloated  pride  ; 

Ready,  at  all  times  he,  for  either  side. 

A  manly  practice  this,  I  must  confess, 

Which  mostly  thrives  where  man's  in  most  distress! 

Such  facts  made  Godwin  wish  no  bar  might  be, 

To  foster  wrong,  while,  Justice,  pledged  to  thee  ! 


18  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Such  facts  as  these  made  Bcntham  mourn  the  curse 
Of  that  black  art  which  aims  to  make  the  worse 
Appear  the  better  reason  in  the  case  — 
To  win,  by  jockey  ing,  the  legal  race  ! 
Such  facts  as  these  do  other  minds  compell, 
To  own  that  law  epitomizes  hell! 
Whoever  has  its  study  dared  essay, 
Will  think  it  but  a  comi-tragic  play  ; 
A  bat  and  ball  where  life  is  knocked  about, 
And  men  are  strangely  counted  in  and  out. 
These  cultured  minds,  so  trained  to  split  a  hair, 
Split  human  hearts,  unheeding  their  despair ; 
Though  high  their  rank,  their  lives  are  often  low, 
Less  worthy  they,  the  more,  perchance,  they  know 
On  knowledge  grounded,  they  are  seen  to  wait 
With  legal  icebs,  to  snare  some  trustful  pate. 


CULTURE.  19 

With  mind  well  skilled  in  taking  in  these  flies, 

They  are,  in  keeping  them,  well  skilled,  likewise  ; 

They  '11  eat  the  oyster  while  the  shell  they  give 

To  those  who  in  their  wicked  art  believe  ; 

A  precious  set  to  guard  the  rights  of  man ; 

Find  me  a  baser,  Atrides,  if  3*011  can. 

My  heart  is  saddened  with  a  sense  of  pain, 

To  see  the  cultured  crowds  so  proud  and  vain ; 

Vain  in  the  thought  one  little  head  can  hold, 

All  it  may  study  of  our  little  world  ; 

See  where  a  cheat  may  be  successful  done ; 

Measure  the  earth  and  distance  to  the  sun ; 

Follow  the  lead  of  Blackstone  and  of  Coke, 

Whose  thin  distinctions  much  of  mirth  provoke ; 

Giving  to  custom  such  an  airy  turn, 

That  right,  like  smoke,  doth  ever  seem  infirm ; 


20  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Gazing  with  Newton  on  the  vast  unknown, 
Whilst  thinking  cutely  of  the  things  their  own  : 
In  part  perceiving  what  there  is  of  life ; 
And  what  will  lead  directly  on  to  strife  ; 
Knowing  of  nature  but  in  small  degree  ; 
Too  weak  her  subtleties  to  dearly  see  ; 
Vain  of  the  nothingness  of  meat  and  drink, 
While  proud  to  haughtiness  of  truths  they  think ; 
Which  follies  move  one's  common  sense  to  cry, 
Ye  cultured  nincompoops,  O,  haste  to  die  ; 
The  world,  without  3*ou,  might  not  be  so  wise, 
Nor  near  so  wicked,  nor  so  packed  with  lies  ; 
If  \G  won't  stand  to  manly  honor  fast, 
The  world  's  the  gainer  when  your  days  have  past ; 
No  tear  should  fall  when  you  are  laid  to  rest, 
Of  all  things  pestilent  the  vilest  pest ; 


CULTURE.  21 

For  ye  have  reason  plumed  to  wing  its  way, 
Where  craft  and  cunning  hold  triumphant  sway ; 
In  this  yourself  disgraced,  dishonored  God, 
Loathed  when  beneath,  as  when  above  the  sod. 
Some  of  your  number,  I  may  say  with  pride, 
Will  not,  as  Bacon,  take  a  tempting  bribe  ; 
•Or  let  a  friend  be  hustled  to  the  block, 
When  friendship  could  his  prison  doors  unlock. 
There  are,  thank  heaven,  'raong  the  learned  some 

minds, 

Which  honest  heart  and  polished  wit  combines  ; 
Harvard,  Marshall,  Prescott  —  the}'  are  names, 
Which,  trumpet  tonyued,  this  happy  truth  proclaims. 
But  such  are  as  the  stars  which  shine  through  skies. 
Where  heavy  clouds  oft  shade  them  from  our  e}'es ; 
Those  clouds  of  sorrow,  born  of  passions  mean, 


22  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

'Mid  "  cultured  classes"  far  too  frequent  seen.. 

Where  'er  we  turn,  whatever  land  we  see, 

There  knowledge  seems  icith  vice  in  love  to  be," 

The  wit  of  man  and  of  the  icoman,  too, 

Will  more  of  mischief  than  good  service  do  ! 

Onl}',  as  God  his  spirit  to  the  heart, 

Through  faith  and  prayer  may  graciously  impart,. 

Can  Learning's  graces  lead  us  on  to  act, 

Justly  by  all,  in  honor's  rules  exact. 

Ne'er  could  I  see  why  Culture's  force  should  sway 

The  strong  or  weak  from  Conscience's  beaten  way  \ 

Yet,  in  some  graceless,  godless  wit,  behold 

A  power  which  does  this,  crafty,  bad  and  bold  ; 

And  as  he  pleads  with  cunning  art  a  cause, 

Laughs  in  his  sleeve  at  jury,  judge,  and  laws  1 

If  an}-  doubt  a  scoundrel  at  the  bar 


CULTURE.  23 

May  grow  to  be  a  bright  and  mighty  star, 

And  ride  rough-shod  o'er  who  shall  then  presume, 

To  soil  or  pluck  his  waving,  gaudy  plume, 

To  call  him  rightly  by  his  name,  a  knave, 

Learned  though  he  be,  and  amiable,  and  brave,  — 

If  any  doubt  this,  I  their  pardon  crave 

When  I  proclaim  them  innocents,  indeed, 

Who  very  much  &  guardian's  vigils  need. 

To  me,  the  learned,  who  mould  the  times,  seem  wise 

Mostly  and  only  in  their  own  fair  eyes. 

Yet,  if  the}-  could  and  would  see  how  it  is,  — 

The  error  rampant  and  the  lives  amiss, 

They  might,  perhaps,  in  pity  at  the  sight, 

Resolve  to  shape  things  somewhat  more  aright. 

The}*  have  the  power  —  if  they  had  the  will  — 


24  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

All  they  affect,  in  righteous  ways  to  drill. 
The  masses  look  to  Culture  for  their  cue  ; 
And,  as  the}*  get  it,  wrong  or  right  will  do : 
If  the}'  perceive  who  lead  in  life,  as  wise, 
All  training  but  the  sensual  despise, 
By  which  the  base,  the  grosser  passions  thrive. 
And  from  the  soul  all  higher  thinking  drive,  — 
If  they  are  made  to  feel  a  tender  heart, 
Which  pities  suffering  and  takes  its  part ; 
Does  what  is  possible  in  Christ's  dear  name 
To  honor  Him,  and  put  who  sneer,  to  shame,  — 
If  they  suspect  the  cultured  smile  to  see, 
To  whom  they  bend,  in  love  and  awe,  the  knee  ; 
And  in  whose  name  the}'  offer  prayer  to  God, 
Who  will   through   Christ   redeem   them  from    the 
sod,  — 


CULTURE.  25 

If  they  conceive  this  worship  all  a  farce, 
And  both  the  covenants  of  law  and  grace, 
A  sheer  invention  of  the  priests  to  gain 
Over  the  masses  a  despotic  reign,  — 
What  will  the}-  do,  but  quickly  turn  to  those, 
Who,  "  greatly  learned,"  the  Christ  divine  oppose: 
The}'  will  not  think  that  can  be  really  true 
The  "  finest  scholars  riddle  through  and  through," 
As  they  believe  ;  while  Scripture  laughs  to  scorn 
These  puny  critics  of  vain  learning  born!  — 
Who  beat  their  brains  against  its  deathless  page, 
Thinking  to  shatter  by  their  truth"1  s  great  rage 
The  precious  lore  our  Scripture  doth  reveal.  — 
The  Christian's  love,  his  happiness,  his  zeal ! 
But  though  these  critics,  apt  at  vain  dispute, 
Succeed  in  winning  whom  their  wit  may  suit, 


26  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Yet,  all  unshaken  stands  God's  Word  to-day, 
As  first  from  sacred  pens,  it  made  its  way  ; 
A  light  and  comfort  to,  who  hold  it  dear 
Beyond  all  else  —  how  wise,  exact,  sincere. 
Science  can  tell  us  of  the  road  to  wealth 
And  fame  —  can  help  us  get  and  keep  our  health  ; 
Can  well  acquaint  us  with  the  laws  which  reign, 
Through,  what  of  Nature,  we  may  chance  attain ; 
But  short  the  distance  we  can  go  that  way  ; 
At  second  causes  we  are  forced  to  stay. 
And  when  the  whole  of  what  is  known  to  be 
"  Truth  proved  bej-ond  a  doubt,  as  all  may  see," 
Is  massed  as  evidence  of  Reason's  might  — 
To  that  unknown  compared,  how  mean  a  sight ! 
What  cause  for  boasting  this,  of  wit  of  man, 
When  all  he  knoics  we  closely,  careful  scan  ; 


CULTURE.  27 

When,  what  he  proves,  alas  !  is  nothing  more 

Than  as  one  pebble  to  the  ocean's  shore  ! 

Yet  will  this  pigmy,  this  inflated  mite, 

So  short  of  reason  and  so  poor  of  sight, 

Set  up  a  cr}'  of  fraud  against  a  plan 

God  has  designed  to  bless  conceited  man  — 

A  Word  Revealed  of  such  unnatural  cast, 

(Unmatched  by  writings  of  the  present,  past) 

That  human  wit,  unaided  by  divine, 

Would  not  have  wrought  in  this  so  misty  line. 

It  would  have  worked  according  to  its  way, 

Nor  taught  of  truth,  fair  Nature  gives  no  ray  !  — 

But  this  doth  Scripture  ;  yet  bears  proof  that  He 

Who  made  all  things  made  this,  O  Man,  for  thee,  — 

This  precious  Word,  without  which  who  can  knoic 

The  wrong  from  right  —  said  not  the  wisest  so  ? 


28  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Said  not  the  sage  by  whom  was  Plato  taught, 
God  must  himself  make  certain  moral  thought, 
Uy  word  revealed  in  some  decisive  way, 
Else,  would  the  mind  no  standard  fixed  obey  — 
Else,  icould  the  mind,  confused  by  self-conceit, 
In  no  one  Master  ever  deign  to  meet ; 
But  many  schools  would  varied  notions  teach, 
And  wrong  as  right  would  not  infrequent  preach. 
Yes,  needful  as  this  precious  Word  Divine 
Is  thus  confessed  to  be,  yet  "  wits  sublime" 
In  these  last  days  incessantly  declare 
'•  Science  is  all  for  which  we  need  to  care  ; 
That  Scripture,  or  the  so-called  Word  of  God, 
Has  had  its  day  !  —  should  rest  beneath  the  sod 
Buried  from  sight,  no  more  to  curse  mankind 
With  cruel  wars  and  superstitious  mind  : 


CULTURE.  29 

Reason,  informed  by  what  may  now  be  known, 

Is  all  the  God  that  human  wit  should  own. 

If  it  shall  fail  us.  there  's  no  other  power 

We  can  avail  of  any  da}-  or  hour. 

The  Force  creating  earth  and  all  we  see, 

Has  no  more  care  for  man  than  for  a  bee, 

Or  flower,  or  any  other  living  thing  — 

To  Reason  only  may  we  trust  and  cling. 

All  prayers  to  it  shall  answered  be, 

If  clear  the  answer,  wit,  perchance,  may  see : 

All  other  gods  are  nought  and  cannot  hear ; 

Xor  know,  nor  care,  for  either  smile  or  tear. 

We  live  and  die  no  wiser  than  the  dog ; 

If  aught 's  beyond,  it  is  a  dismal  fog. 

The  soul 's  a  myth,  the  supernatural,  sham  ! 

Sin  never  could,  or  will,  or  ought  to  damn  ; 


30  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

But,  if  there  is  a  soul,  which  liveth  on, 
'T  will  have  a  bod}*,  with  itself  as  one  : 
We  need  not  care  about  that  future,  noio  ; 
Of  this  life  only  do  we  really  know" 
80  prates  ';  great  Learning  ;  "  writes  the  same  ; 
Without  remorse,  or  any  blush  of  shame  ! 
These  writings  circulate,  are  widely  read, 
And  many  blight,  to  Christian  teaching  bred. 

So  goes  the  times,  by  Culture  thus  adorned, 
Of  pious  living  none  too  well  informed  ! 
Where  it  will  end,  whose  vision  can  perceive  ? 
How  much  the  prospect  should  all  thinkers  grieve  ! 
Since  natural  law  doth  not  oft  make  for  rigid, 
But  fosters  wrong  from  tyranny  of  might! 
When  /Scripture  fails  to  work  its  truths  on  man, 


CULTURE.  31 

And  he  exclaims,  "  Believe  it,  ye  who  can  ;  " 
Then  lives  as  though  no  such  a  Word  there  is, 
The  saddest  fate  must  come  to  him  and  his ! 
The  punishment  is  sure  for  who  deny 
Their  Lord  and  Master,  and  his  truth  defy. 
Their  fall,  like  Lucifer,  will  be  so  low 
And  everlasting,  the}'  will  cry,  "  Ah,  woe! 
Great  woe  is  mine,  yet,  is  there  no  relief; 
Christ  will  not  pardon  us  this  sin  in  chief,  — 
Dread  blasphemy/  that  deadliest  of  wrongs 
To  hell,  and  hell  alone,  of  right  belongs." 
Such,  drifting  are,  on  Culture's  vicious  tide, 
Far,  far  awa}',  from  where  they  should  abide  — 
Fast  by  the  oracles  of  God  whose  will 
Therein  is  clear,  while  Nature  baffles  still ! 
Is  it  for  this  —  this  reckless  unbelief, 


32  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

This  overwhelming,  bitter,  constant  grief, 

That  mental  training  is  so  freely  given 

"  To  help  us  here,  and  on,  if  there  's  a  heaven  ?  " 

How  blessed  are  any,  or  for  heaven  meet, 

Who  only  learn  what  fosters  self-conceit ! 

Who  say  "  mankind  have  outgrown  God  in  Christ ; " 

That  "  truth  alone  in  Nature  doth  consist;  " 

Who  mostly  live  a  sensual,  selfish  life, 

Ready  in  courts  a  disputant  to  knife  ; 

Though  just  his  cause,  and  worth}*  of  success, 

Yet,  must  he  lose  it  —  Law,  the  iciliest  bless! 

Oh,  when  will  God  the  selfish  human  heart 
Which  icit  combines,  inspire  to  nobler  part? 
When  shall  the  weak  securely  hold  their  own 
Against  all  power,  even  to  the  throne? 


CULTURE.  33 

That  time  is  coming,  it  is  drawing  near ; 
Christ,  as  is  promised,  soon  will  reappear, 
To  judge  the  Devil,  and  who  favor  him, 
Content  to  live  the  shameless  pests  of  sin. 
When  He  on  earth  shall  reign,  then  will  obtain 
Justice  for  all  who  love  His  holy  name. 
Satan  confined,  the  wretches  of  his  sway 
Will  slink,  as  darkness  from  the  light,  away ; 
Millennial  peace  and  joy  will  be  for  those 
Who  do  not  Christ,  in  any  sense,  oppose  : 
With  Him  in  power,  the  sinful  will  not  dare 
To  injure  whom,  the  Saviour's  love  doth  share. 
Laugh  you  at  this  ?  ye  demons  in  the  flesh  ! 
Whom  God  permits  his  servants  to  enmesh 
By  sorrows  many,  through  your  carnal  minds 


34  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

And  much  good  fortune,  which  with  strength  com 
bines,  — 

Laugh  you  at  this,  indeed  ?    Prepare  to  see 
God's  word  fulfilled  —  at  every  line  —  of  thee. 
The  icicked,  it  is  writ,  will  cursed  remain, 
This  life  their -portion,  endless  death  their  gain ! 
Think  you,  the  glorious  Christ  will  fail  to  give 
Their  due  reward  to  those  who  disbelieve 
In  Him  as  Saviour,  Prophet,  Lord,  and  Friend? 
Hath  He  not  said  how  such  base  souls  shall  end  ? 
Culture,  indeed  !  —  what  wisdom  should  delight 
The  Son  of  God,  denying  Him  his  right? 
What  human  wit,  however  grand  its  range, 
Ma}'  in  the  Word  one  single  purpose  change? 
And  if  that  wit  be  dead  in  unbelief, 
What  more  can  Christ  accord,  than  deepest  grief? 


CULTURE.  35 

Better  by  far,  if  Culture  gives  away 

The  souls  of  those  which  are  for  vain  display, 

To  doubt  and  disbelief  in  Hoi}'  "Writ,  — 

Better  b}-  far  these  souls  had  ne'er  been  born, 

Than  on  the  rack  of  Christ's  displeasure  torn  ! 

True  wisdom  is  to  firmly  stand  for  Him, 

And  shun  those  studies  which  such  light  will  dim  : 

They  lead  to  thinking,  that  will  profit  naught,  — 

Confused,  uncertain,  ay,  and  evil  thought ; 

To  doubts  of  God,  of  everything  unseen, 

To  picturing  all  things,  simply,  as  a  dream ; 

But,  if  b}*  Christ  AVC  stand,  as  Master,  Friend, 

We  know  how  life  began,  how  it  will  end  ; 

"We  know  how  we  should  live  to  peaceful  die  ; 

How,  on  Christ's  word,  we  ever  may  rely; 

We  kindly  think  of  every  one  who  strives 


3G  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

On  Holy  "Writ,  to  squarely  base  their  lives  ; 

"We  seek  to  aid  them  hold  the  faith  professed ; 

To  serve  them  when,  by  unkind  fortune,  pressed. 

One  Lord  we  have,  a  Master  we  revere, 

Whose  cause  we  love,  and  have  at  heart  most  near : 

Such  is  a  brotherhood  worth  all  the  fame 

The  learned  in  doubt,  may  gather,  as  a  name  — 

Vaet  in  the  knowledge  of  the  wa}-s  to  draw 

Man}'  to  science  from  God's  written  Law : 

But,  who  may  sneer,  at  Christian  faith  shall  feel 

No  joy  in  that,  but  rather  woe  than  weal. 

From  such  we  turn  —  how  cultured  they  may  be  — 
As  Satan's  own,  averse,  O  Lord,  to  thee. 
Yes,  intellectual  people  !  who  should  raise 
All  social,  business  life,  to  Scripture  praise, 


CULTURE.  37 

In  numbers  large  use  all  the  means  they  can 

To  curse  with  vanity  the  creature,  man  !  — 

To  set  him  up  above  where  he  should  rise  ; 

On  Reason  perched,  disputing  with  the  skies  — 

Believing,  yet,  he  will  out-measure  all 

Therein  that 's  grand,  which  natural  laws  we  call ; 

Though,  ignorant  still,  of  how  these  laws  obtain,  — 

The  simplest,  even,  puts  his  wit  to  shame ! 

Sad,  sad  it  is,  such  numbers  lead  the  waj' 

To  boastful  Reason's  stupid,  godless  sway  ! 

This  bad  example  tells  upon  the  crowd, 

Who,  in  their  turn,  of  unbelief  are  proud  ; 

Doubting  of  all  the  senses  can't  discern, 

With  Holy  Writ  the}-  won't  themselves  concern. 

Yet,  could  these  sec,  in  those  who  ever  stand 

High  as  to  wit,  and  high,  too,  in  command, 


INTELLECTUAL  PEOPLE. 

A  tone  and  temper  in  accord  with  Christ, 
The  good  example  few  would  e'er  resist. 
Whom  fortune  places  far  above  the  mass, 
Are  watched  by  these,  a  most  observing  class  ; 
And,  as  their  leaders  and  their  patterns  go, 
So  will  they  follow  —  be  it  weal  or  woe  ! 
Important  much  it  is,  whom  God  has  given 
Good  wit  and  culture  to  prepare  for  heaven, 
That  they  should  not  mistake  their  duty  so, 
In  other  ways  than  Christian  paths  to  go  — 
Drawn  off  by  vagaries,  not  unlike  some  dream, 
To  bide  with  those,  who  make  themselves  supreme  ; 
Who,  'gainst  the  oracles  of  God,  declare, 
Upon  Him  waging  an  eternal  war ! 
That  is  a  culture  false,  which  wrecks  the  faith 
In  Jesus  Christ —  his  birth,  his  life  and  death  ; 


CULTURE.  39 

Whate'er  we  know,  we  've  little  learned,  indeed, 
If  we  know  not,  how  much  this  Guide  we  need. 
Wisdom  from  science  may  delight  our  pride ; 
But  peace,  alone,  the  Saviour  can  provide,  — 
That  moral  certaint}',  He  taught,  as  God  ; 
In  whom  we  rise,  triumphant  from  the  sod. 


40  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

AUTHORSHIP. 

As  once  I  sat  beside  a  beauteous  stream 
Where  poets  came  to  idle  and  to  dream, 
Far  from  the  city's  hum,  the  cit}v's  crimes, 
So  manifold  in  these  blasphemous  times, 
There  walked  one  near  of  prepossessing  air, 
With  dark  prophetic  eyes  and  flowing  hair, 
Whom  well  I  knew,  and  beckoned  to  my  side, 
Where  sat  he  down,  to  ease  and  I,  allied. 
Some  pleasant  chat  we  had.    'Twas  then  he  chose 
To  speak  of  authorship  and  author's  woes  : 
So  I,  well  plensed,  encouraged  the  discourse, 
Which  he  began  with  earnestness  and  force  : 
"  Of  all  the  vile  and  dirty  work  that's  done 
Beneath  the  rays  of  yon  all-glorious  sun, 


AUTHORSHIP.  41 

The  pen  and  those  who  wield  its  '  magic  power ' 
Excel  in  wickedness  through  every  hour. 
What  I  essay  will  be  to  clcarl}*  show 
Wherein  the  blessing,  and  wherein  the  woe, 
Which  springs,  alike,  from  labors  of  the  quill 
So  man}'  venture,  and  so  few  with  skill. 
When,  in  my  youth,  I  looked  upon  this  life, 
And  saw  few  friendships  unassailed  by  strife, 
I  turned  to  those  who  through  the  pen  would  say 
Such  noble  thoughts,  I  longed  to  be  as  they; 
I  longed  to  write,  to  live,  to  think  for  all ; 
To  feel,  in  Truth,  I  had  a  special  call,  — 
To  plead  for  her,  to  champion  all  her  ways, 
And  pass  in  joy  the  balance  of  my  days. 
Unto  this  cause  I  gave  my  mind  and  heart, 
Hoping  to  play  a  noble  champion's  part : 


42  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

'  Xaught  low,  or  mean,  or  useless  would  I  give 

To  feed  the  public  that  I,  too,  might  live. 

The  sea  of  trash  which  surged  within  my  A'iew 

Much  did  I  loathe,  and  its  base  authors,  too : 

The  soul  of  honor  in  the  trust  I  bore, 

This  stench  of  wit  I  could  not  but  abhor. 

My  spirit  seemed  to  wing  its  flight  to  God, 

And  I  would  tread  where  only  Right  had  trod  ! 

I  wrote  what  pleased  me,  what  I  thought  was  well, — 

I  struck  for  heaven,  as  opposed  to  hell. 

Full  of  the  spirit  of  an  honest  pride 

In  that  sweet  truth  for  which  I  could  have  died, 

I  sought  the  publishers  to  aid  my  cause ; 

But  they,  enslaved  by  sclfnnd  selfish  laws, 

Could  not  do  much  for  '  authors  little  known,' 

How  well  might  be  what  from  their  brains  had  flown. 


AUTHORSHIP.  43 

They  said  that  '  they  were  full,'  and  sent  me  where 

Some  other  pubs  like  fulness  would  declare : 

My  thoughts,  ambition,  hopes  were  naught  to  these 

Nor  cared  they  me  in  any  sense  to  please. 

I  must  a  name  acquire,  then,  they  would  sa}', 

'  Welcomed  art  thou,  we  like  you  much,  you  pay/  ' 

But  for  that  name  the)'  would  not  stir  a  peg, 

E'en  though  I  kissed  their  hand,  or  knew  to  beg. 

I  felt  repulsed  when  I  would  do  a  good  ; 

It  stirred  my  ire  and  it  boiled  my  blood. 

Despite,  howe'er,  the  usage  I  received, 

O'er  which  the  sensitive  are  often  grieved, 

I  quietly  reviewed  these  little  men  ; 

And  smaller  even  seem  they  now  than  then. 


4-i         INTELLECTUAL  PEOPLE. 

"  Yes,  in  my  youth,  while  yet  by  fancy  let! 

To  think  all  fair  whose  writings  fairly  read, 

I  deemed  that  authorship  was  truth  itself  — 

A  mine  of  Pleasure's  richest,  purest  pelf. 

But  *  distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view, 

And  robes  the  mountains  in  their  azure  hue ; ' 

It  gives  to  Letters  a  deceptive  smile, 

And  cloaks  in  beauty  what,  too  oft,  is  vile. 

Now,  young  no  longer,  and  no  longer  blind, 

I  see  all  life  with  clear,  unclouded  mind  ; 

Knowing  most  teachers  of  mankind  to  be 

As  mean,  vindictive,  as  we  care  to  see  ; 

While   those   who   publish   that    which    they    may 

write, 

By  practice  sharp,  to  bitter  thoughts  incite  ; 
And  these  two  forces,  leagued  in  '  Truth's  behalf,' 


AUTHORSHIP.  45 

Oft  lack  the  worth  of  some  fat  kicking  calf. 

Yet  do  the  public,  by  these  angels  taught, 

Rarely  consider  but  the  book  that 's  bought ; 

If  it  is  pleasing,  all  the  wrong  behind 

Is  quite  unheeded  by  the  reader's  mind. 

So  has  it  been,  so  will  it  ever  be, 

While  those  who  read  continue  not  to  see 

The  channels  whence  to  them  instruction  flows  — 

The  arts  of  publishers,  the  author's  woes  ! 

"  Would  readers,  students,  only  nurse  a  pride 

In  having  Right  o'er  authorship  preside, 

The  souls  which  live  to  send  their  thoughts  to  them 

Through  publishers,  might  have  more  self-esteem  ; 

I  sa}',  might  have,  because  I  am  not  sure 

If  every  friend  to  genius,  Letters,  swore 


46  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

To  read  no  books  which  came  not  from  a  press, 
Whence  came  not,  also,  wailings  of  distress,  — 
I  am  not  sure,  I  saj',  that  this  would  gain 
For  Justice  more  than  couples  with  a  name  ! 
The  traders  who  have  drank  from  author's  skull, 
Since  books  were  made,  their  costly  wine  in  full, 
Will  ever  strive,  I  fear,  to  drink  so  still  — 
With  them 's  the  power,  with  them  's  the  wicked  will ! 
Some  think  it  right  to  do  what  the}r  ma}1  please,  — 
An  author's  interest  it  is  fair  to  squeeze  ; 
And,  as  he  can't  be  circulated  well 
Without  some  publisher  his  worth  to  tell, 
He  must  submit  to  what  these  sharpers  do,  — 
Those  who  demur  are  '  the  superior  few ; ' 
He  must  submit  to  what,  perchance,  they  win ; 
Cheat  or  no  cheat,  they  are  of  need  to  him. 


AUTHORSHIP.  47 

Yet,  are  there  publishers,  whose  sense  of  right 
Is  active  ever,  and  their  dealings  straight ; 
The}-  know  an  author  has  an  author's  pride, 
And  with  all  wits  their  profits  fair  divide. 
Yet,  it  is  true,  O  Letters,  all  supreme  ! 
Honor  oft  blushes  at  the  counter  mien : 
Conceived  in  fraud,  and  frequent  born  in  shame, 
What  hast  thou  but  a  most  unsavory  name  ? 
Thou  teachest  strangely  what  is  love  and  truth, 
To  nurse  the  virtue  which  ma}'  be  in  youth, 
While,  in  the  mysteries  that  breed  thy  life, 
There  's  little  else  than  mean,  disgusting  strife  ! 
So  that,  to  write  as  one  would  write,  and  be 
Uncurbed  by  those  who  'd  not  have  genius  free, 
There  oft  should  be  unto  the  author's  name 
The  means  to  print,  as  he  may  nobly  aim. 


48  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

A  curse  are  they  with  moral  sense  so  small 

They  '11  print,  no  matter  what,  but  make  the  call, 

(E'en  though  the  taste  is  bad  as  bad  can  be,) 

To  nurture  sin  and  weaken,  Virtue,  thee. 

Go  through  the  bookstores,  lay  your  hand  about, 

Pick  up  a  book,  and  ten  to  one  it 's  stout 

In  merest  nothings,  and  the  money  paid 

Is  thrown  away  by  boy,  or  man,  or  maid. 

To  making  books  there  surely  is  no  end ; 

While  truth  and  sense  are  on  their  last  defend. 

Most  men  who  publish  are  a  worldly  crew  ; 

Will  give  3'ou  poison,  if  naught  else  will  do  ; 

Debauch  your  taste,  lay  waste  your  heart  and  mind, 

And  all  for  money  !  —  this  it  is  we  find 

The  why  and  wherefore  of  the  trash  on  sale, 

Before  which  sights  the  bravest  hearts  will  pale. 


AUTHORSHIP.  49 

How  can  it  be  that  those  whom  God  has  given 
Inventive  wit,  which  dares  its  flights  to  heaven, 
Will  prostitute  its  powers  to  get  in  print, 
That  sin  may  revel  in  its  darksome  tint,  — 
To  please  those  publishers  whose  evil  wants 
Demean  the  pens,  which  that  desired  grants. 

' '  There  are  who  write  what  none  could  ever  read 

Without  acquiring  some  goodly  seed,  — 

Something  to  plant  within  their  souls  to  bloom, 

Dispelling  somewhat  of  Life's  shades  and  gloom  ; 

Yet,  are  they  told,  '  their  writings  will  not  go,  — 

That  sales,  if  any,  would  be  only  slow  :  ' 

They  should  their  minds  and  conscience  trim  to  suit 

The  taste,  the  fancy,  of  some  human  brute  ; 

Or,  write  for  those  whose  simpering,  mincing  ways 


50  INTELLECTUAL    PEOPLE. 

Forbid  them  books  intelligent  to  praise  ; 
But,  love-sick  twaddle  and  the  passion's  glow 
Is  what  the}-  favor,  all  they  wish  to  know  ; 
Some  vicious  Naua,  or,  a  tale  like  this, 
Is  what  will  suit  the  master  and  the  miss. 
If  there  are  those  who  love  to  spend  their  days 
(Deemed  to  be  geniuses)  for  such  to  praise, 
I  envy  not  the  fame  that 's  so  acquired  ; 
By  me  such  praise  could  never  be  desired. 

"  Who  dare  in  verse  to  cast  the  laws  of  things, 
To  tell  of  Nature  and  the  forms  she  brings ; 
To  picture  forth  the  secrets  of  her  fame, 
Their  perfect  concord  with  the  Christian  name, 
Yet  sees  such  works,  conceived  with  purpose  high, 
Which  teaches  how  to  live  and  how  to  die, 


AUTHORSHIP.  51 

Neglected,  as  a  labor  for  an  age 
When  trash  and  humbug  may  not  be  the  rage ; 
Obliged  to  wait  till  comes  that  welcomed  day 
When  'what  is  sound,  to  publish  then  will  joay/' 
Obliged  to  wait  while  jackdaws  flap  their  wings, 
And  all  cry  out  '  What  lovely  darling  things  ! '  — 
May  well  express  some  sorrow  deep  to  find 
So  given  much,  to  trifling  things,  the  mind. 
Whose  is  the  life  which  could  be  better  spent, 
Than  on  such  works,  on  truths  so  needed  bent? 
What  poet  writes  the  nonsense  of  the  heart, 
Who  should  precedence  take  of  them  in  Art  ? 
They  who  aspire,  through  verse,  to  give  to  God 
As  real  a  presence  as  the  green  grass  sod ; 
While  shallow  poets  but  rehash  the  song 
Of  love,  and  all  its  self-same  stories  long. 


52  INTELLECTUAL    PEOPLE. 

Well,  these  can  wait,  and  if,  perchance,  they  live 
Beyond  this  life  (as  I  will  e'er  believe), 
Well  will  it  please  them  from  their  spirit  home, 
To  see  on  earth  the  time  for  them  has  come, 
When  men  and  women  will  their  works  desire 
To  read  with  care,  as  the}-  to  thought  retire  ; 
Which  treat  of  matters  that  should  pleasure  all, 
And  from  misuse  of  life  each  reader  call : 
Revealing  truths,  whence  lasting  interest  flows, 
Whence,  true  delight,  because  of  what  one  knoics  ; 
Whence,  oft  misfortune,  ma}-  assuage  its  grief, 
And  find  in  age  or  youth,  to  tears,  relief 
Through  God  in  nature,  which  around  us  lies, 
Whose  beauty  lights  the  earth  and  spans  the  skies." 
So  spoke  the  poet,  sadness  in  his  eyes 
From  deep  emotion,  feelings  some  despise,  — 


AUTHORSHIP.  53 

Those  heartless  worldlings  who  can  never  know 
A  poet's  passions  and  a  poet's  woe. 
He  spoke  and  paused,  and  then  began  again  ; 
Thus  ran  his  speech  in  clear  and  earnest  strain : 
"  Once,  on  a  time,  I  went  for  generous  aid 
To  one  who  dealt  in  verse  —  a  godless  trade  ! 
Through  him  and  him  alone  my  hope  must  be 

Of  getting  readers  for  my  poetry. 

• 

'  The  verse  was  clever,  subject  fresh  and  new,' 

But  from  my  pen  the  Muses  would  not  do ; 
'  I  had  no  famej'  enough  were  famous  now, 
Who  wore  the  bays  upon  their  saintly  brow. 
And  so,  this  keeper  of  the  keys  in  Art 
Poetic,  playing  an  exalted  part, 
With  face  so  hairy,  full,  and  round,  and  fair, 
And  step  so  light,  and  manners  free  from  care  ; 


54  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

With  speech  so  soft  and  gentle,  one  would  sa}*, 
He  rarel}*  sought,  or  seemed  to  want  his  way  — 
This  smooth-tongued  beaut}'  of  a  certain  set, 
Who  think  in  verse  their  genius  should  be  pet, 
Said  to  me  softly,  3~et  unknown  to  fame, 
'  To  print  your  works  would  be  to  us  no  gain  ; 
We  have  enough  to  do  for  those  who  write 
For  polished  tastes,  alone,  and  minds  polite.' 
But  said  I  then,  '  You  will  your  imprint  lend? ' 
'  That,  sir,'  said  Beauty,  '  we  do  not  extend 
Beyond  the  works  we  rightly  call  our  oicn  ; 
No  sooner  published  than  they  well  are  known.' 
"T  was,  now,  I  looked  in  Beauty's  gentle  eyes, 
And  saw  them  full  of  just  such  kind  of  lies. 
I  said  no  more,  but  went  upon  my  way, 
Smiling  to  think  what  little  things  will  pay. 


AUTHORSHIP.  55 

The  public  ran  for  him,  because,  his  art 
Of  clever  humbug  seemed  to  touch  its  heart ; 
But,  could  it  know  him  as  he  knew  himself, 
Or,  as  God  saw  him  with  his  fame  and  pelf; 
Or,  as  some  knew  him  through  their  common  sense, 
'T  would  say,  '  Thou  whited  sepulchre,  Oh,  hence! 
Out  of  my  sight  that  other  sights  than  thee 
May  come  to  comfort  and  to  solace  me.' 
How  such  a  fellow  could  position  gain, 
Which  gives  the  bit  to  genius  and  the  rein  ; 
Commands  the  friendship  of  that  brilliant  mind, 
Who  painted  Nature  with  a  heart  so  kind  ; 
Whose  novels  spai'kle  with  deific  power, 
In  characters  we  meet  through  eveiy  hour  — 
How  such  as  he  —  a  soul  all  dead  to  truth 
Except  what  served  him  and  his  own,  forsooth  — 


56  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Could  get  and  keep  the  place  that  he  doth  fill, 

Is  not  explained  —  it  is  a  puzzler  still. 

But  oft  it  happens  in  the  ways  of  life, 

A  harlot  passes  for  a  virtuous  wife  ; 

Through  art,  by  art,  these  wonders  are  attained ; 

And  so,  by  art  this  fellow  got  a  name. 

Well,  let  him  keep  it ;  in  those  realms  beyond, 

Whence  he  has  gone,  and  all  of  us  are  bound, 

There  shall  he  stand,  unmasked,  a  little  thing, 

To  whom  so  many  would  sweet  offerings  bring. 

"  When,  in  my  youth,  and  ros}-  seemed  my  way, 
And  authorship  a  pleasure  that  would  pay, 
I  plumed  m}'  wing  to  soar  with  Truth  alone, 
My  conscience  ever  healthy  in  its  tone, 
Oh,  how  I  revelled  in  that  bliss  so  sweet, 


ACT  HO  US  III  P.  57 

Which  waits  on  Ignorance's  misguiding  feet ! 

But  abject  rmillmen  of  time-serving  wit, 

For  dirty  jobs  in  Letters  only  fit, 

Have  stayed  1113"  dreaming  and  its  pleasures  sweet  — 

Authors  now  seem  the  meanest  men  I  meet. 

A  few  there  are  whose  virtues  keep  them  true 

To  what,  O  Father !  thou  wonldst  have  them  do  ; 

But  most  who  write  for  publishers  and  bread, 

Alike  to  honor  as  to  truth  are  dead  ! 

As  clay,  within  the  potter's  hand,  the}'  j'ield  ; 

Assume  such  shapes  adapted  to  their  field, 

And  to  the  Shylocks  of  the  paying  press, 

Who,  wanton-like,  love  artifice  in  dress. 

All  hail !  ye  trimmers  of  an  art  divine, 

Who  prize  so  highly  works  you  claim  as  thine  ; 

Yes,  thine  alone,  not  borrowed  m  purloined  ; 


58  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

But  from  your  brain  by  honest  method  coined,  — 
All  hail !  I  say,  so  dove-tailed  and  secure, 
So  sweetly  winning  and  so  saintly  pure  — 
Your  compact  is  a  thing  so  shorn  of  man, 
Let  those  fall  down  and  worship  \-ou  who  can ; 
There  are  who  will  not  praise  what  they  despise, 
Though  others  may  the  same  thing  dearly  prize, 
And  read  the  nonsense  }'ou  combine  to  print 
In  folios  countless,  with  no  wish  to  stint ; 
But  would  you  stint  in  this,  yet,  liberal  where 
A  generous  act  would  make  some  life  more  fair, 
That  they  could  praise,  and  much  admire,  too  ; 
That  the}'  could  credit,  cheerfully,  to  you. 
But,  say,  O  Authors !  ye  of  fair  renown, 
Brimful  of  nonsense  from  your  feet  to  crown  ; 
Oh,  say,  if  those  who  run  the  press  through  thee 


AUTHORSHIP.  59 

Seem  to  delight  in  paying  you  your  fee  : 

Do  they  not  cheat  you  when  the  chance  is  theirs? 

Are  they  much  mindful  of  your  pressing  cares  ? 

Would  they  a  tear  drop  o'er  your  pleading  grave, 

When  there  you  lay,  a  broken-hearted  brave  — 

'  Knight  of  the  quill,'  who  drove  it  them  to  please. 

To  give  them  capital  and  much  of  ease  ? 

If  tears  they  shed,  't  would  be  that  no  more  thou 

Could  at  their  bidding  make  the  ready  bow, 

And  put  thy  wit  in  such  desired  dress 

As  would  their  coffers  fill,  their  self-love  bless  : 

Such  crocodilic  grief  the  gods  behold 

As  wits  reward  in  this  vainglorious  world. 

The  man  of  genius,  if  he  wield  the  pen, 

Too  oft 's  the  sport  of  base  designing  men  : 

Had  he  the  means  to  print,  as  he  would  write, 


CO  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

N  'er  subject  to  another's  oversight, 
There  would  to  him  be  left  a  name  to  prize, 
Worthy  of  love  in  his  all-seeing  ej'es. 
But,  as  the  trade  goes  on  like  any  trade, 
And  books  for  money  mostly  now  are  made, 
The  crowd  of  authors  will  their  stomachs  fill, 
E'en  at  the  cost  of  flooding  earth  with  ill ; 
Their  conscience  is  a  thing  of  plastic  kind  ; 
So  good  or  evil  streams  from  out  their  mind 
As  it  may/)«y,  or  publishers  demand  — 
Such  writers  take  they  freely  by  the  hand. 
Well,  let  them  take  ;  the  devil  knows  his  own, 
And  wits  are  devilish  which  to  this  have  grown. 
Yet.  praised  be  God,  some  in  the  Pen  delight 
Who  will  not  flourish  by  ignoring  Right ; 
Nor  seek  to  prosper  by  a  pregnant  knee, 


AUTHORSHIP.  61 

Crooked  but  for  thrift  —  a  fat  though  Christless  fee : 

These  do  not  take  to  dark,  ignoble  ways, 

To  money  get  by  courting  vulgar  praise  ; 

They  were  not  born  to  be  the  slaves  of  sense, 

And  sell  their  souls  for  shillings,  pounds,  or  pence  ; 

They  are  the  enemies  to  knaves  and  sin, 

Nor  plaudits  loud  by  favoring  wrong  would  win. 

As  goes  the  custom  in  this  '  art  divine,' 

Money  secures  most  any  sort  of  line  ! 

Which  flatters  follies,  what  is  good  strikes  down, 

Scornful  of  those  who  on  such  baseness  frown. 

••  I  can  but  pity  and  despise  the  life 

Which  falls  so  readily  beneath  the  strife 

Of  wrong  with  right,  of  shame  with  honor's  pride, 

And  all  for  name  on  Fame's  incoming  tide. 


62  INTELLECTUAL    PEOPLE. 

Give  me  that  soul,  which,  graced  with  rarest  gifts, 

Rises  to  God  —  to  Him  his  creatures  lifts  ; 

Spurning  the  paeans  of  a  faithless  crowd 

AVhich  for  its  favorites  daily  shout  aloud  — 

That  soul  I  love,  that  soul  can  trusted  be ; 

That  soul,  O  Father,  is  beloved  by  thee ! 

That  soul  would  authorship  make  sound  and  pure, 

And  as  Sir  Walter  would  not  e'er  endure 

A  word  which,  dying,  it  could  wish  to  blot  — 

This  was  the  standard  of  the  pen  of  Scott ; 

This  is  the  standard  which  alone  can  give, 

To  high-toned  genius  any  wish  to  live. 

The  literary  sculpins  then  would  cease ; 

These  graceless  creatures  no  more  could  increase  ; 

And  time  not  distant  would  behold  them  all 

Extinguished  fully,  past,  perhaps,  recall. 


AUTHORSHIP.  63 

Oh,  haste  that  time,  that  happy  time  when  trash 
Will  cease  to  please,  or  largel}-  '  draw  the  cash  ; ' 
When  verse  no  longer  shall  mere  lies  convey, 
To  please  the  fancy,  vulgar  passions  sway  ; 
When  genius  shall  to  truth  be  true  as  steel, 
Though  lightly  loved,  and  scanty  be  its  meal. 
What 's  worth  the  praise,  what 's  worth  the  cursed 

gold 

Of  those  who  bu}~  you  —  to  their  purpose  sold  ! 
Teach  them  to  know,  you  '11  write  to  make  your  mark 
Onl}'  as  conscience  fans,  Ambition's  spark  ; 
That  what  }X>u  write  shall  be  what  all  ma}-  read, 
Nor  lose  their  time,  nor  morals  make  to  bleed. 
The  vain,  time-serving  Authors  of  the  day, 
But  fool  their  own  and  other  lives  away. 
If  in  the  pulpit  they  may  chance  to  be, 


64  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

They  '11  put,  Jehovah,  outrage  near  to  Thee  ; 

With  no  religion  but  the  love  of  praise, 

Xo  work 's  too  dirty  if  't  will  plaudits  raise. 

If  goes  this  on,  with  it  will  go  the  right 

Which   Freedom   snatched   from  out  the  grasp  of 

Might ; 

The  right  to  govern  self,  to  be  a  man  / 
To  think,  to  act,  on  one's  own  chosen  plan. 
A  Press  debauched  by  wits  because  \t  pays, 
Must  bring  to  speedy  close  these  prosperous  days. 
Nations  decay  when  genius  won't  aspire, 
To  check  the  people  in  each  mean  desire. 
Where  it  unites  with  them  in  sordid  life, 
Comes  havoc  quickly  on  the  wings  of  strife  ; 
And  throats  are  cut  as  pastime  for  a  mob 
Which  gloats  o'er  blood,  and  laughs  to  hear  the  sob. 


AUTHORSHIP.  65 

My  heart  is  sad,  my  spirit  chafes  to  see 
What  may  proceed  from  authorship  and  thee, 
When  '  pens  employed  '  write  only  of  what  sells, 
Ignoring  Conscience,  which  'gainst  this  rebels." 
Thus  spoke  the  poet  as  his  eyes  flashed  fire, 
And  lashed  his  soul  by  proud  and  honest  ire. 
He  paused  a  moment,  then  went  on  to  say 
More  of  the  subject  in  his  former  way : 
''Wherein  the  blessing  and  wherein  the  woe 
From  quillmen's  labors,  I  've  proposed  to  show. 
Blessed  are  those  authors  and  those  readers,  too, 
AVhose  books  delight,  yet  never  injure  you. 
There  are  not  many  of  this  class  who  gain 
Distinguished  honor  in  a  world-wide  fame  ; 
Yet,  they  who  '11  follow  these  and  cheer  them  on, 
Will  keep  those  ways  where  love  is  surely  won ; 


66  INTELLECTUAL    PEOPLE. 

Those  ways  of  pleasantness,  those  paths  of  peace, 
Where  kindly  thoughts  and  kindly  acts  increase  ; 
Where  the  deep  sorrows  of  an  evil  life 
Are  all  unknown  with  its  malignant  strife. 
Herein  is  blessed  who  reads  a  wit  so  given, 
Who  'd  have  us  know,  while  yet  on  earth,  of  heaven  ; 
Who  'd  plume  our  minds  and  hearts  to  mount  to 

God, 

To  bear  with  patience  his  chastising  rod  ; 
Who  'd  have  us  prize  the  beautiful  in  all, 
And  at  Truth's  shrine  in  bending  posture  fall ; 
Who  'd  teach  us  how  to  live,  and  how  to  die  ; 
To  love  our  Maker,  naught  in  Him  decry, 
E'en  though  with  tears  he  floods  our  daily  bread  ; 
Yet,  will  such  authors,  by  God's  spirit  led 
Keep  us  to  Him  who  chastens  those  he  loves, 


AUTHORSHIP.  67 

Yet  ne'er  forsakes  his  suffering,  pleading  doves. 

This  is  that  genius  whose  delightful  power 

Can  bless  with  peace  when  saddest  is  the  hour : 

Go  to  its  works,  and  from  their  fountains  draw 

That  life  of  Truth  which  flows  for  rich  and  poor. 

Such  mind,  in  whatsoever  art  it  lives, 

More  in  the  right  than  in  the  wrong  believes ; 

And  rarely  can  be  led  to  waste  its  powers, 

As  on  the  desert  air,  the  sweets  of  flowers. 

If  those  have  lived  whose  large,  surprising  wit, 

Has  run  in  wa}-s  for  virtuous  minds  unfit,  — 

If  such  there  are  in  authorship  to-day, 

Who  public  morals  strive  to  waste  away, 

They  are  exceptions  which  we  must  deplore, 

And  strive  to  lessen,  not  increase  the  score. 

The  soul  which  feels  its  might  and  knows  its  reach, 


68  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Is  seldom  apt  the  false  and  vain  to  teach ; 
Its  spirit,  sympathetic  with  the  true, 
Creates  such  love  of  God,  such  love  of  you, 
That  when  instruction  it  essays  to  give, 
Truth  and  its  beauties  must  conspicuous  live 
In  all  it  writes  for  keenest  public  eye, 
That  it  may  peaceful  be,  and  calmly  die. 
Herein  the  blessing  is  of  those  who  rate 
As  Authors,  Artists,  and  esteemed  as  great. 
If  they  are  faithful  to  the  trust  that 's  given 
By  will  of  high  and  holy  watchful  heaven, 
The}*  must  secure  a  flattering  praise  of  earth, 
When  steadfast  seen  to  everlasting  truth  ! 
Such  are  the  blessings  which  from  Genius  flow ; 
Now  we  will  see  what  writers  breed  of  woe. 


AUTHORSHIP.  69 

"  Impelled  by  vault}-  to  fame  achieve, 
lu  speed  to  gain  it,  they  aloue  believe  ; 
They  sharply  watch  the  currents  of  the  time, 
Where  flout  the  public,  ever,  Folly,  thine  ; 
And  with  these  currents  they  will  drift  along, 
To  each  false  taste  and  habit  weave  their  song. 
The}'  do  not,  will  not  seek  to  these  oppose  ; 
They  '11  chickweed  give,  if  nndesired  the  rose  ; 
They  '11  dose  their  readers  with  conceits  so  mean, 
That  nothing  good,  proceeds  therefrom,  nor  clean. 
They  do  not  aim  the  twig  to  bend  aright, 
Hence,  grows  the  tree  unpleasant  to  the  sight ; 
Exhaling  poison,  as  the  upas,  round,  — 
That  moral  poison  which  in  books  abound. 
Yet,  though  an  author  does  in  fact  no  harm, 
Is  flat  and  witless,  neither  cold  nor  warm, 


70  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Vending  such  manuscript  as  ma)-  be  read 
To  no  advantage  to  the  heart  or  head, 
But  taken  in  where  brains  are  thought  to  lie, 
There  float  about  amusement  to  supply,  — 
If  such  the  worthless  fruit  his  pen  ma}'  bear, 
Useless  his  life  with  all  its  work  and  care ! 
The  dm-man  or  the  bootblack  far  excel 
Such  public  servants  in  the  cause  of  well. 
A  highly  polished  boot,  a  loaded  team, 
Is  something  more  than  ecstasies,  a  dream. 
We  pay  these  workers,  in  return  we  gain 
Substantial  service,  not  a  reading  vain  ; 
Theirs  is  a  life  more  worthy  to  be  praised 
Than  godless  authors  by  ambition  crazed  ; 
And  even  genius,  when  it  writes  on  call 
What  must  good  taste  and  pious  minds  appall ; 


AU  Til  Oil  SHI  P.  71 

All  these  stand  forward  willingly  to  say 
By  pen  and  ink  whatever 's  seen  tojxty; 
Then  to  the  press  their  '  taking  wit '  present  — 
The  veriest  twaddle  Culture  could  invent. 
But  what  surprises  most  is  how  they  live 
Upon  the  public,  the}'  such  nonsense  give  : 
Yet,  when  'tis  seen  what  far  too  often  draws, 
And  that  '  the  drama's  patrons  make  its  laws,' 
Should  it  surprise  us  much  that  authors  thrive 
With  marked  success  in  keeping  trash  alive? 
This  is  a  sorrow  no  one  will  deny  ; 
All  feel  its  pressure,  some  from  it  would  fl}' ; 
Yet,  habit  is  all  potent  through  the  world, 
Among  the  young,  the  middle  age,  the  old  ; 
If  used  to  authorship  that  points  not  high, 
These  lose  the  relish  for  a  better  tie. 


72  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

So,  wallowing  in  the  mire  of  reading  much, 
While  learning  little  from  the  pens  of  such, 
Their  lives  in  error  drag  of  every  kind, 
I>3~  courting  authors  of  ungodly  mind, 
Rather  than  those  who  are  to  conscience  bound, 
Pure  in  their  habits,  in  their  teachings  sound. 

"  The  3'oung  of  cither  sex  will  spend  their  dimes 
On  authors  writing  only  for  the  times, 
But  with  remorse  pursuing  all  their  days  — 
Hating  these  '  wretches'  once  the}'  loved  to  praise. 
I  've  seen  the  fairest  faces,  fairest  forms, 
The  gentlest  spirit  which  affection  warms, 
Given  to  reading  what  never  should  be  writ, 
To  demons  grow,  for  evil  only  fit ! 
Religion's  sense,  without  which  none  can  be 


A  U  Til  OK  SHI  P.  73 

Trusted  by  airy  —  from  suspicion  free  — 

Was  lost  to  them  b}*  Ioo7cs  which  bid  them  do 

Whate'er  their  passions  lead  them  to  pursue. 

Imposing  no  restraints,  these  works  so  bad 

May  for  a  price  in  main"  stores  be  had  ; 

The  booksellers,  the  publishers,  combine 

A  paying  trade  to  drive  in  any  line, 

Which  authors  follow  for  their  sin-cursed  bread, 

While  vast  the  crowd  by  their  conceits  misled. 

The  pulpit  sees  the  moral  wrecks  I  see, 

But  powerless  it  is,  and  so  will  be, 

To  save  these  readers  from  those  well-laid  snares 

The  Atheist  and  Infidel  prepares. 

That  '  solid  piety '  the  gown  should  plant 

Within  the  soul  —  its  great  eternal  want  — 

It  fails  of  doing  through  scholastic  pride, 


74  INTELLECTUAL,     PEOPLE. 

So  far  from  Christ,  who  for  us  humbly  died. 
Why  does  it  not  its  teachings  make  '  to  tell,' 
And  save  to  heaven  what  is  lost  in  hell  ? 
It  fails  in  this,  because  so  weak  in  faith, 
Whilst  running  dogmas  fairly  out  of  breath. 
Ah,  would  it  but  believe  in  its  discourse, 
In  clean  white  neckties  given  oft  with  force  ; 
Would  it  but  second  heartily  who  try 
To  live  like  honest  men,  and  nobly  die  ; 
Would  it  inspire  the  trust  that  what  is  taught 
Is  really  that  the  Holy  Spirit  wrought ; 
Yes,  e'en  the  trust  /  it  might  some  souls  reclaim, 
Which  reckless  authorship  has  sunk  in  shame ! 
But  failing,  thus,  in  bringing  these  to  God, 
While  glibly  talking  of  His  wrath  and  rod, 
How  can  humanity,  with  Life's  large  load, 


AUTHORSHIP.  75 

Which  bears  them  down  at  ever}-  inch  of  road, 

And  heavier  is  in  Christian  circles  found,  — 

How  can  they  feel  a  sense  of  love  profound  ? 

How  can  the}'  or,  the  '  unbelieving  damned  ' 

Who  '11  not  play  Christian  — by  too  man}-  shammed  — 

How  can  these  minds,  I  say,  get  much  relief 

By  airy  doctrines  merely  of  belief  ? 

Let  but  thepttlpit  and  the  heart  conform 

To  that  sweet  Christ  who  stilled  the  raging  storm, 

Persuade  by  loving  deeds,  not  talk  alone, 

Religion  thus  would  gain  a  higher  tone  — 

In  dress  and  manners,  and  in  action  true 

To  that  professed,  Jehovah,  as  from  you. 

The  charm  of  love  but  give  to  what  is  pure 

And  Christian-like,  —  we  then  may  hear  no  more 

Against  the  Bible,  as  a  heavenly  guide, 


7G  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

The  good  man's  solace  and  the  good  man's  pride ! 

This  is  the  volume  which,  believed*  can  raise 

Authors  and  Authorship  to  worthier  praise. 

I  have  no  patience  with  those  trifling  minds, 

"Which,  in  a  fling,  mean  pleasure  often  finds ; 

False  in  Science,  in  Philosophy  the  same, 

"With  no  religion  but  the  love  of  fame  ; 

Proud  of  the  bravo  of  a  Skeptic's  sneer ; 

Of  God  nor  devil,  nor  of  man,  no  fear  — 

Their  hopes,  their  pleasures  by  this  life  are  bound, 

Because  unconscious  of  a  state  bcj'ond. 

These  are  the  readers  of,  who  '  liberal  write  ; ' 

Whose  virtue 's  easy,  and  whose  pen  is  spite ; 

"Working  against  whatever  Christian  claim, 

May  be  set  up  in  Morals'  holy  name. 

But  conscience  outraed  b-  their  wish  to  be 


AUTHORSHIP.  77 

Without  command,  0  blessed  God  from  Thee  !  — 
That  they  may  live  a  life  to  evil  given, 
And  mock  conditions  to  the  joys  of  heaven, 
Will  rise  in  awful  majesty  at  last, 
With  stern  reproaches  for  the  errors  past, 
To  strike  them  as  John  AVilmot  felt  its  blow, 
The  Earl  of  Rochester  —  that  man  of  woe  ; 
Or,  as  have  millions  sneering  in  their  strength, 
Come  to  embrace  the  Christian  faith  at  length. 
So  may  it  be,  with  those  who  now  employ 
Their  every  power,  to  this  faith  destro}' ; 
Yet,  all  their  wit,  and  all  it  may  essay 
Can't  wipe  this  comfort  from  the  world  away  ; 
Which  Addison  sustained,  as  friends  stood  by, 
"When,  said  he,  see  how  those  in  Christ  can  die. 
I  say  that  books  and  Authors  not  in  tune 


78  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

With  Holy  Writ  —  this  ever  priceless  boon  — 

Infest  the  earth  with  woes  that  ruin  more 

Than  }Tears  could  number,  or  than  hands  could  score. 

Then,  is  the  duty  plain,  to  clean  the  press  ; 

To  read  no  books  which  curse,  but  never  bless ! 

A  man  of  genius  is  a  man  of  stealth, 

If  Morals  fail,  beneath  his  touch,  in  health  ; 

And  if  the  public  know  its  interests  true, 

'T  will  bid  such  geniuses  a  long  adieu. 

"Now,  have  I  spoken,  how  are  blessed  or  cursed. 

Those  formed  by  Letters  and  in  Authors  versed ; 

Nor  have  I  been,  ambiguous,  but  plain, 

Which  suits  not  some  whose  ways  are  dark  and  vain. 

The  error  of  too  many  pens  is  this  — 

They'll  tell  a  truth,  as  babes  will  give  a  kiss  ; 


AUTHORSHIP.  70 

So  delicate  and  weak  they  lay  it  on, 

That  little  else  than  waste  of  time  is  won. 

Truth  is  a  force  that  needs  a  fearless  soul 

To  give  it  play,  that  it  may  get  control. 

The   silvery  tongue   which   melts   through    music's 

strains 

The  icy  heart,  where  nothing  warm  obtains, 
Is  well  enough,  its  work  is  done  with  grace, 
Among  the  righteous  we  assign  it  place. 
But  there  are  pens  which  will  not  softly  state 
The  errors  loathed,  and  which  they  would  abate  : 
What'er  is  mean  and  false,  they  '11  surely  slay  ; 
Nor  stop  to  ask,  if  strikes  like  this  will  jpay. 
Yet,  these  are  few —  who  like  them  not  can  go 
Fast  in  those  ways  which  leadeth  on  to  woe  ; 
But  they  will  stand  where  safe,  sure  footing  is, 


80  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

To  conscience  true,  the  highest  source  of  bliss  ! 

Oft  are  they  told  when  writing  to  be  read, 

'  The}"  should  take  care,  how  what  the}-  think  is  said ; ' 

Yet,  care  they  nothing  but  for  what  they  know, 

Out  of  their  hearts  and  earnest  spirits  flow. 

If  called  hard  names  and  pelted,  too,  with  sneers 

By  lofty  self-conceit,  which  coarse  appears, 

They  grieve  to  see  what  manners  e'en  obtain 

With  those  of  rank  in  Culture's  motley  train ; 

Creatures  who've  managed  to  acquire  note, 

And  would  all  others  with  reluctance  quote  ; 

Assured  that  they,  and  they  alone  should  sway, 

Not  letters  merely,  but  in  every  way  ! 

One  can  but  smile  at  culture  such  as  this, 

"While  tempted  much  the  vulgar  thing  to  hiss. 

And  now.  my  friend  —  and  friend  indeed  thou  art  — 


AUTHOKSHIP.  81 

Ere  3~et  I  close,  and  sunset  beams  depart, 

I'll  say,  think  only  Authors  serve  thee  well, 

Who  have  a  conscience  over  that  they  sell ; 

Remember,  Authorship  's  a  noble  Art, 

The  mind  should  strengthen,  grace  with  truth  the 

heart ; 

If  this  it  fails  to  do,  Oh,  strike  it  down ! 
And  heaven  will  bless  thee,  will  thy  virtue  crown." 

So  spoke  the  Poet ;  as  he  rose  to  go, 
I  said,  "  Do  stay,  nor  leave  a  brother  so ; 
For  are  we  not  akin  to  all  that 's  pure, 
To  all  that's  worthy  of  the  mind  to  store? 
Discourse  again  ;  I  think  3-011  've  more  to  say ; 
Come,  sit  you   down,  and  give  your  thoughts  full 
play." 


82  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

The  Poet  yielded — thus,  his  verses  ran, 
Freely  and  clear,  as  when  he  first  began ; 
4  What  do  we  see  so  far  in  Culture's  fields, 
Which  to  our  hearts  o'er  much  of  pleasure  yields  ? 
Methinks  there 's  more,  far  more  to  pain  the  sight 
Than  glad  it  with  the  happy  sense  of  Right ; 
Methinks  there  's  more,  far  more  to  have  us  say, 
Fame's  thorn}'  path  is  much  too  mean  a  way. 
There  are  who  think  that  those  to  Science  given, 
Have  here  on  earth,  a  foretaste  sweet  of  heaven ; 
And  that  companionship  with  such  must  be 
A  near  approach,  beloved  God,  to  Thee. 
In  this,  again,  't  is  distance  that  deceives, 
And  robes  ball  mountains  in  a  dress  of  leaves  ; 
Misleads  those  minds  but  little  up  in  lore, 
The  famed  in  learning  almost  to  adore. 


AUTHORSHIP.  83 

But  those  who  know  them  well,  their  wa}-s  so  vain, 

From  gushing  praise  will  labor  to  refrain  ; 

Their  moral  sense  is  often  near  to  shred, 

And  cometh  so  in  getting  daily  bread. 

Thus,  life  is  seen  ;  as  others  they  must  do ; 

Talk  science  up  e'en  while  deluding  you. 

As  Doctors,  Lawyers,  other  astute  things 

Whose  stay  on  earth  unnumbered  curses  brings  ; 

As  Artisans,  or  what  not,  they  contrive 

Smart  tricks   and   falsehoods  through   each  day  to 

drive ; 

Science  with  them,  is  '  how  to  make  a  pile,' 
By  means  we  see,  too  often  are  most  vile. 
The  more  they  know,  the  more  they  seem  to  try, 
Their  way  through  life  by  subtle  shams  to  buy ; 
They  '11  figure  so,  that  none  but  they  can  gain, 


84  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

While  those  '  done '  by  them,  plead  their  woes  in 

vain. 

Go  where  you  will,  look  where  you  may,  you  '11  find 
That  science,  mostl}",  adamants  the  mind. 
Its  sweet  affections,  and  its  native  truth 
(Which  may  have  blessed  the  hours  of  playful  youth) 
Is  chilled  to  death  ;  and  subject  to  this  guide, 
It  heartless  floats  along  life's  inky  tide. 
Get  knowledge  ?    Yes  ;  that  is  the  ciy  around  ; 
Be  up  in  all  things,  in  our  ears  resound  ; 
Invade  the  planets  and  the  nebulae, 
Look  into  all  things,  see  what  you  can  see  : 
Den}'  that  God  exists  ;  say,  Man 's  from  Ape, 
And  give  to  morals  any  kind  of  shape ; 
Learn  but  to  doubt,  though  doubt  not  you  may  rise, 
Far  more  than  others  to  be  noted  wise ; 


AUTHORSHIP.  85 

Let  shrewdness  mark  each  action  of  your  life  ; 
In  science's  cause,  engage  in  daily  strife ; 
Be  prudent  of  thy  gold,  on  friends  impose, 
In  all  their  business  stick  your  sapient  nose  ; 
And  }-ou  shall  rank  among  those  '  able  minds,' 
To  whom  sweet  Nature,  all  her  stores  unbinds. 
Delightful  creatures  !     Ah,  what  should  we  do 
Without  }-our  wisdom  and  your  k  virtue]  too ; 
What  would  become  of  Holy  Writ,  who  knows, 
With  you  not  by  to  stay  its  desperate  foes  ? 
You  do  so  much  to  favor  Christian  Icnc, 
To  forward  justice,  and  to  aid  the  poor ; 
Your  scientific  facts  are  so  humane, 
For  inhumanit}'  we  look  in  vain. 
Ye  votaries  of  science  learned  therein, 
/So  cleansed  by  knowledge  from  the  love  of  sin , 


86  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Come,  tell  us  who  it  is  that  panders  so, 
To  hideous  vice  which  clouds  our  world  with  woe? 
Who,  methods  name,  by  which  the  laws  are  dodged, 
And  vicious  wealth  in  sumptuous  style  is  lodged? 
Who  does  all  this  ?    Whence  spring  the  guards  which 

save 

Vice  from  the  Law  when  it  the  Courts  may  brave  ? 
Can  it  be  science,  that  meek,  honest  thing, 
To  aid  the  wicked,  plumes  its  heavenly  wing? 
Can  it  be  science,  that  would  stoop  so  low, 
To  plunge  in  error  those  who  strive  to  know? 
Can  it  be  science,  which  a  mother's  milk 
Would  stay  beneath  the  fine  full  flowering  silk? 
Can  it  be  science,  which  would  dye  the  hair, 
Contrive  deceptions  with  especial  care  ? 
Can  it  be  science  which,  in  myriad  ways, 


AUTHORSHIP.  87 

With  follies  blight  man's  swiftly  gliding  days  ? 
Ah,  }-es,  it  is,  and  pity  't  is,  't  is  true  — 
That  this,  fair  Mistress  may  be  said  of  you  ; 
But,  not  alone  dost  thou  in  meanness  deal ; 
For  virtue  oft,  thou  wilt  exert  thj*  zeal. 
Some  noble  souls  there  are  by  thee  inspired, 
Whose  love  of  truth  is  all  to  be  desired  ; 
Faithful  to  it,  they  live  and  die  for  Right, 
And  those  fixed  laws  revealed  by  Nature's  light ; 
They  are  the  lives  without  which  earth  would  be 
Cursed  with  a  deeper  hate,  sweet  Christ,  of  Thee  ! 
Would  there  were  hosts  of  such  to  crush  the  sin 
Which  Knowledge  breeds,  to  heartless  triumphs  win  ; 
Then  would  our  world  believe  much  more  in  prayer, 
And  in  a  Father's  love,  a  Father's  care. 


88  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

"  As  I  wade  through  the  wickedness  of  man, 
And  see  him  grasp  at  everything  he  can, 
See  him  well  dressed  and  fair  to  look  upon, 
B}"  whom  so  much  is  meanly,  basely  won ; 
Read}*  to  do  whatever  work  will  pay, 
Lawful  or  not,  through  every  passing  day  ; 
Know  him  in  science  to  be  taught  aright, 
And  with  a  wit  so  sprightly  and  so  bright ; 
Yet,  find  him  given  to  deception,  shams, 
I  think  how  much  of  human  life  he  damns  ! 
Learning  is  well,  but  morals  do  exceed 
All  we  can  learn  of  value  to  our  need  ; 
Culture,  to  bless,  must  honesty  sustain  ; 
Stoutly  oppose  whatever  's  false  and  vain : 
Schools  are  but  hot-beds  of  incipient  vice, 
If  honor  there,  is  seen  but  shrewd  device ; 


AUTiionsiiip.  89 

If  minds  arc  furnished  with  ideas  to  sway, 

With  but  n  pinch  of  morals  for  the  da}' ; 

If  'getting  on  '  is  all  for  which  the}'  learn, 

For  which  they  sigh,  for  which  the}'  madly  burn  ; 

On,  on,  in  school,  ahead  in  business  life, 

Whetting  their  wit,  as  footpads  do  their  knife, 

That,  in  the  conflict  of  the  days  to  come, 

Their  stabs  may  tell  —  be  sent  directly  home  ; 

Whereas,  't  is  virtue  then  should  have  the  rule, 

But  fails  through  weakness  bred  within  the  school : 

Cradle  of  character  to  one  and  all, 

As  nurtured  there,  they  either  stand  or  fall ; 

As  nurtured  there,  the  being  winged  for  flight, 

Rises  to  naught  but  ever  cheerful  light, 

Or,  falls  -where  darkness  folds  the  spirit  in  — 

Those  dismal  shadows  of  the  demon,  sin  ! 


90  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Then,  Culture,  if  them  wouldst  a  blessing  be, 

Let  morals  go  in  firmest  bond  with  thee." 

Here  ceased  the  Poet,  and  rose  again  ; 

"When,  we  together  walked,  where  waved  the  grain, 

With  that  sweet  sympathy  of  mind  with  mind, 

Which  makes  this  life  so  vastly  more  than  kind. 

We  strolled  admiring  all  delightful  views, 

And  quite  forgot  the  city  and  its  news : 

Nature  we  loved,  loy  her  so  oft  surprised  ; 

Her  beauties  charmed,  we  ever  dearl}-  prized. 

And  now,  clear  reader,  unto  you  I  turn, 

Whom  I  would  have  of  "  cultured  folks"  to  learn: 

You  've  heard  the  Poet  and  so,  too,  have  I ; 

You  ma}'  his  teachings  for  yourself  apply. 

Are  you  displeased  because  he's  spoken  true, 


AUTHORSHIP.  91 

And  holds  things  up  thus  naked  to  your  view  ? 

If  so  you  feel,  1113-  pity  3-011  evoke, 

Since  you  can't  bear  an  honest  artist's  stroke  ; 

Since  you  can't  bear  to  see  how  small  a  part 

Oft  Culture  plays,  both  in  its  mind  and  heart. 

Well,  well,  I  pity  3*011,  and  hope  with  time, 

You  '11  sa3"  —  "  He 's  right,  he  's  right,  the  wrong  is 

mine." 

And  when  3-ou  see  that  he  has  spoken  truth, 
Ity  it  be  guided,  if  in  Age  or  Youth. 
So  live,  that  when  you  come  to  pass  awa3*, 
Man3*  there  '11  be  who  'd  gladly  have  3*011  sta3* ; 
So  live,  that  God  nm*  in  3'our  life  be  seen, 
Whose  love  will  keep  3'our  inner  self  serene. 
Perhaps  there  are,  who  ma3'  these  verses  read, 
Will  sa3"  the  Poet  stands  too  much  in  need 


92  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Of  skill  and  polish,  to  enrapture  them,  — 

And  so  his  verse  they  will  at  once  condemn. 

But  sneers  and  ridicule,  who  may  escape, 

Who  would  aright  the  public  conscience  shape  ? 

Our  Poet,  't  is  confessed,  is  "  no  great  shakes," 

From  rigid  rules,  awaj"  he  sometimes  breaks ; 

Nor  is  he  what  is  called  a  "  darling  dear ;  " 

So  sweet,  so  very  sweet,  all  far  and  near 

Flock  to  behold  him,  and  to  press  his  hand  — 

No,  no,  such  homage  he  does  not  command ; 

None  beg  of  him  a  lock  of  his  brown  hair ; 

None  say  they  love  him,  even  to  despair ; 

None  throw  their  arms  about  his  neck  and  swoon ; 

Feast  on  his  eyes  from  early  morn  till  noon ; 

Yea, —  dewy  eve,  when  twinkling  stars  shine  bright, 

And  then  is  heard  "the  kiss  me,  love  —  good  night." 


AUTHORSHIP.  1)3 

No,  no,  our  Poet 's  not  "  the  rage  "  at  all ; 

Few  kiss,  or  care  in  love  with  him  to  fall ; 

Still,  he  survives  it,  and  will  write  things  down, 

Careless  of  praise,  or  who  may  at  him  frown. 

The  friend  of  Truth,  he  would  have  all  delight 

In  doing  wisely  from  the  love  of  right : 

And  if  his  pen  is  not  exceeding  rich 

In  "  fine  conceits,"  for  which  the  critics  itch, 

He  could  point  numbers  out  they're  wont  to  praise, 

Whose  rhyme  nor  reason  never  make  ' '  u  craze  ;  " 

But,  so  goes  life  ;  some  credit  get  for  naught, 

While  others  good  work  do,  on  credit  short. 

Xow,  from  me  start  upon  thy  mission  fair, 
Ye  thoughts  so  true,  ye  children  of  1113-  care  ; 
Whatever  fate  may  on  tlry  flight  attend, 


94  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

The  just  and  righteous  will  thy  cause  defend  ! 
For  it  is  holy,  therefore  should  prevail ; 
Who  may  oppose,  are  given  to  assail 
Whatever  hath  a  goodly  form  and  tone,  — 
They  love  the  devil  and  his  works,  alone. 
But  all  who  stand  for  Christ,  delight  in  Him, 
And  seek  to  lessen,  not  engender  sin. 
These  verses  to  His  honor  have  been  writ, 
Imperfect  though  the  melody  and  wit ; 
But  if  there  are,  of  "  greater  parts  "  who  shine 
Only  in  Art,  as  "  beautiful,  divine  ; " 
Whose  morals  have  no  glimmer  of  the  true, 
And  God  nor  Christ  embellish  what  they  do, 
But  Satan,  rather,  to  their  minds  and  hearts, 
Seems  better  suited  to  their  lovely  Arts, 
Then,  it  is  well,  who  've  any  power  to  give 


AUTHORSHIP.  95 

To  Truth  and  Virtue,  that  these  loves  may  live, 

Nor  be  crushed  out  by  Evil's  solid  train, 

To  wield  that  power,  though  they  wield  in  vain. 

Nobler  't  is  to  strike,  however  weak 

The  blow  that 's  given  for  the  good  we  seek, 

Than,  moved  by  fear,  a  dumb,  dead  thing  to  stand, 

Lest  some  should  jest  of  Satan's  cursed  command, 

To  see  a  weakling  hitting  out  for  right, 

Willing  to  fall  if  worsted  in  the  fight. 

No  meaner  things  are  there  than  those  who  sneer 

At  what  the}'  say  —  "  No  artists  can  revere  ; 

Because  of  glaring,  painful  faults  the}'  find," 

While,  what  is  worth}',  wholly  'scapes  their  mind. 

Such  critics  ever  are  —  each  age  has  known 

Their  mean  injustice  and  imperial  frown. 

Blown  up  with  self-conceit,  —  mere  bags  of  wind, 


96  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

Not  one  in  many  have  an  honest  mind  ; 

But  lie  in  wait,  to  pester  whouisoe'er, 

May  chance  to  need,  good  will  and  fostering  care. 

An  honest  critic  with  a  noble  soul 

Is  loved,  revered,  from  e'en  the  pole  to  pole  ; 

But  they  are  rare ;  'tis  oftener  far  we  see 

The  false  enthroned,  and  mean  as  they  can  be; 

"Who  will  say  nothing  in  the  wa}'  of  praise 

Of  any  writing,  be  it  prose  or  lays, 

From  any  motive  to  be  strictly  just,  — 

The  critic  will  of  something  else  think  first. 

What  that  may  be,  to  guess  is  nothing  hard, 

He  would  consider  the  idea  —  reward  ! 

What  may  advantage  him,  that  will  appear 

The  thing  to  do,  the  unctions  motive  dear. 

Well,  be  it  so ;  these  verses  which  are  sent 


AUTHOHSHIP.  97 

Among  mankind,  upon  the  Rigid, intent, 
Are  so  well  armed  in  honesty  and  icUl, 
They  fear  no  critics,  nor  from  them  no  ill. 
Rather  to  hearts  than  heads  they  make  appeal, 
And  ask  acceptance  for  their  truth  and  zeal. 


FINIS. 


INTELLECTUAL    PEOPLE. 


NOTE. 

Ix  these  concluding:  lines  of  "  Intellectual  People,"  I  have  had 
something  to  say  of  critics ;  and  perhaps  by  some  I  may  be  thought 
not  as  respectful  towards  them  as  I  ought  to  be.  Well,  I  wish  to 
say  for  tome  critics  I  have  no  respect,  whatever;  their  so-called 
criticisms  are  simply  blackguardism ;  they  are  a  disgrace  to  the 
exalted  vocation  of  professional  critic;  and  live  by  abusing  authors 
and  publishers  into  feeding  them.  They  have  brutally  abused  me ; 
and  now  I  propose  to  take  them  in  hand  and  give  them  a  good 
spanking. 

There  are  writers  who  will  wait  on  the  good  or  bad  pleasure  of 
these  "  pitiful  creatures,"  with  an  endless  patience  and  subser 
viency  ;  taking  from  them  the  cold  shoulder  or  a  kick,  most  resign 
edly  and  amiably ;  in  the  hope  that  by  and  by  their  patronage  may 
be  fully  secured.  To  such  an  order  of  aspirants  for  literary  fame 
I  do  not  belong ;  and  no  critic  can  truthfully  contradict  me.  If 
what  from  time  to  time  I  have  offered  the  public  "  has  not  been  the 
best  of  workmanship,"  so  be  it;  'twas  mine  and  mine  alone;  and  I 
am  solely  responsible  for  it.  I  have  neither  begged,  nor  paid  any 
critic,  to  say  what  I  have  written  was  better  than  it  really  is.  I  have 
left  them  free  to  notice  my  works,  as  might  suit  themselves ;  and 
sonic  have  noticed  with  a  vengeance,  as  will  be  presently  shown. 

But  what  else  can  be  expected  of  such  "  intellectual  people," 
who  arc  placed  as  literary  critics  ou  papers  and  periodicals ;  whose 
pay  for  the  service  consists,  mostly,  in  what  they  can  "  dead  beat  " 
out  of  nervous,  shaky  authors  and  publishers,  and  anybody  else 
who  is  trying  to  live  by  serving  the  public,  and  need  favorable  press 
notices.  They  never,  or  rarely  find  fault  with  the  works  of  authors, 
as  they  receive  them  for  a  notice,  whose  popularity  is  general,  and 
whose  ability  as  writers,  is  thoroughly  established  in  the  acceptance 
of  the  people ;  even  though  it  would  be  no  hard  matter  to  point  out 
in  not  a  few  passages,  what  is  exceedingly  flat  and  oftentimes 
uugrammatical,  • — without  Cither  rhyme  or  reason.  Yet  the  critic 


NOTE.  99 


has  nothing  but  words  of  praise  for  the  works  by  such  authors; 
playing  the  toad}'  to  these  bright  morning  and  evening  stars,  and 
the  "  brilliant  circle  "  in  which  these  august  bodies  revolve.  But 
when  the  works  arc  to  be  noticed  of  the  lesser  lights  in  authorship, 
who  arc  struggling  to  become  "  something  more  than  common"  — 
entrenched  also  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  —  straightway  the  time 
serving  and  unprincipled  critics,  turn  upon  them  their  batteries  of 
ill-nature  and  abuse;  and,  if  anything  is  left  of  them,  it  is  not  be 
cause  the  critic  has  failed  to  do  his  best  to  destroy  them.  Every  fault 
in  their  works  is  magnified ;  what  is  really  creditable  is  not  noticed ; 
and  wherever  a  sneer  may  be  given,  or  ridicule  conceived  of  any 
line  or  page,  there  it  is  poured  out  unsparingly  with  brutal  instinct 
and  heartlcssncss,  and  in  a  perfect  flood. 

As  a  very  good  illustration  of  this  class  of  gentlemen  "having 
charge  of  the  literary  department  of  papers,"  critics,  forsooth,  — • 
T  would  say,  when  I  published  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1883  my  work 
of  "The  Lost  Love,  and  Other  Verse,"  12mo.,  428  pp.,  I  sent  to 
the  press  in  Boston  and  elsewhere  copies  of  the  work  for  notice ; 
and,  in  a  few  cases,  I  sent  with  the  copy  a  note  in  these  words :  — 

"  To  the  Editor  of,  &c. 

"  I  send  you  a  copy  of  my  work  of  '  The  Lost  Love  and 
Other  Verse ; '  and  if  you  find  anything  to  commend  in  the  volume, 
would  be  grateful  to  you  for  a  kindly  word. 

"  Very  Respectfully,  THE  AUTHOR." 

A  copy  of  "  The  Lost  Love,"  with  a  note  substantially  as  the 
above,  was  sent  to  the  "  Boston  Post,"  and  the  following  gentle 
manly  magnanimous  response  appeared  in  said  paper,  under  book 
notices :  "  We  have  received  a  volume  of  alleged  verse,  entitled, 
'The  Lost  Love,'  by  Wm.  Adolphus  Clark,  who  sends  with  it 
A  note  expressing  the  hope  that  we  may  not  find  it  wholly  uninter 
esting.  We  have  not.  On  the  contrary,  we  have  found  it  very 
amusing.  It  is  the  most  ridiculous  mess  of  silly  twaddle,  un 
mitigated  rot,  and  dreary  drivel  that  we  have  ever  seen ;  and  a  single 
glance  at  the  illustrations  in  the  book  is  enough  to  make  a  man 
think  he  has  an  acute  attack  of  delirium  tremeus."  So  much  for 
that  fine  gentleman  of  the  press.  This,  then,  is  the  way  my  cour- 


100  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 


teous  solicitation  was  met  for  a  kindly  word  in  favor  of  my  book, 
if  in  any  part  there  appeared  ground  for  commendation.  To  say 
that  the  brutal  fellow  Avho  wrote  this  notice  should  disturb  the 
mind  of  any  sensible  author,  would  be  wrongly  said.  The  impres 
sion  such  coarse  blackguardism  gave  me  of  the  "critic"  wa«,  that 
he  could  lie  nothing  but  a  low-bred  nobody ;  and  that  if  in  my  note 
there  had  been  some  money  enclosed,  I  should  have  escaped  his 
brutality,  at  least. 

While  I  feel  certain  the  Editor-in-Chief  of  the  "  Post,"  would 
not  have  permitted  such  a  notice  of  my  book,  to  have  gone  out  from 
his  sanctum  under  the  circumstances — or,  in  fact,  under  any  cir 
cumstances, —  yet,  unfortunately  for  the  good  name  of  his  paper, 
he  had  presiding  over  its  literary  department  a  fellow  not  only  of 
bad  manners,  but  of  bad  heart  —  a  thoroughpaced  blackguard! 
—  since  none  but  such  a  character  would  have  given  such  a  re 
sponse  to  my  courteous  note.  If  nothing  could  bo  found  in  the 
book  honestly  to  praise,  its  condemnation  would  have,  at  least, 
marked  the  instincts  and  breeding  of  a  gentleman,  had  a  gentle 
man  criticised  it  Of  all  whom  I  have  heard  speak  of  that  notice, 
there  is  not  one  but  has  said  "  it  is  unwarranted  and  unpardonable 
abuse,  not  fair  criticism." 

The  name  that  was  given  to  me,  as  the  writer  of  the  same,  I  had 
never  heard  of  before  in  connection  with  Letters ;  and  I  said  to 
myself,  "  Poor  dog !  let  him  bark  ami  snap  his  teeth ;  what  possible 
harm  can  he  do  me?"  When  he  says,  "The  illustrations  are 
enough  to  make  a  man  think  that  he  has  an  acute  attack  of 
delirium  trcmens,"  we  suspect  that  he  must  have  been  in  such  a 
deplorable  condition  from  delirium  of  some  sort,  when  he  penned 
that  notice,  as  not  to  know  it  would  harm  nobody  but  himself. 
Very  likely  he  was  just  from  a  tippling  shop,  where  drinks  are  free 
to  the  press ;  for  such  wits  live  by  their  wits,  and  never  calculate 
to  pay  for  anything  they  can  sponge  out  of  another.  It  must  be  a 
free  pass  for  them  everywhere,  on  pain  of  their  blackguardism,  if 
denied.  As  evidence  that  this  notice  was  most  unjust  and  far 
away  from  the  truth,  I  would  state  a  number  of  pieces  composing 
the  volume  had  been  published  in  the  "  Evening  Transcript,"  and 
other  Boston  and  New  York  papers,  and  got  there  not  by  favor, 


NOTE.  101 

but  by  merit.  The  editors,  in  some  instances,  had  no  personal 
acquaintance  with  me,  and  could  have  had  no  desire  to  favor  my 
offering,  further  than  in  their  judgment  the  merit  of  the  same  war 
ranted.  If  they  had  not  rated  me  as  a  poet,  they  would  have 
rejected  in  every  case  my  offerings. 

If  I  do  not  put  the  music,  the  fancy,  the  imagination,  and  the 
nonsense  into  my  verse,  which  poets  of  the  "  highest  order  of  min 
strelsy  "  put  into  theirs,  this  is  a  pity  and  a  fault,  to  be  sure ;  but 
people  who  read  my  verse  will  have  to  stand  it.  I  give  them  in 
the  cause  of  sound  moral  truth,  what  I  think  they  ought  to  read ; 
but,  if  they  won't  be  at  the  trouble  to  read  my  writings,  they  are 
at  perfect  liberty  to  let  them  alone.  I  shall  not  quarrel  with  them 
because  of  their  neglect;  not  I.  I  can  be  at  better  business.  And 
as  to  those  scoundrelly  critics  !  who  abuse  and  insult  me,  because  I 
am  and  always  have  been  unwilling  to  make  love  to  them,  I  would 
just  here  say,  that  they  arc  not  worth  in  my  opinion  the  powder  that 
would  blow  them  out  of  existence.  I  care  nothing  cither  for  their 
praise  or  blame  ;  but  against  their  abuse,  I  protest.  One  of  them 
notices  "  The  Lost  Love  "  in  the  Boston  Commonwealth  newspa 
per  in  the  following  generous  and  tasty  manner.  A  gentleman  of 
the  press,  be  it  remembered,  is  responsible  lor  all  this  kindliness  and 
generosity.  Says  he  :  "  The  Lost  Love  pretends  to  be  a  book  of 
poetry ;  but  after  wading  through  floods  of  the  dreariest  nonsense, 
we  have  failed  to  find  a  line  of  poetry  in  it.  The  author  thinks 
himself  a  satirist,  and  so  he  tells  us  in  the  awkward  English  of  his 
Preface.  lie  says  he  writes  from  a  sense  of  duty.  This  magnifi 
cent  personage,  William  Adolphus  Clark,  would  feign  be  silent,  but 
must  be  true  to  the  public  and  dose  it  with  what  he  has  to  say.  He 
appears  to  think  an  elaborate  dedication  is  necessary  to  every  poem, 
and  so  his  book  abounds  in  them.  His  dedication  to  '  State  St.' 
is  magniloquent ;  and,  after  this  flourish  of  trumpets,  the  reader 
turns  over  the  page,  and  is  confronted  with  the  following  sort  of 
twaddle :  — 

'  When  Justice,  heavenly  maid,  was  young, 

While  yet  in  early  Greece  she  sung, 

The  Passions  oft  to  hear  her  law 

Would  throng  around  her  open  door  ; 

Exulting,  trembling,  etc.'  " 


102  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

These  opening-  lines  of  "  State  St."  seem  to  make  the  critic  very 
unhappy,  for  he  goes  on  to  say:  "  This  William  Adolphus  Clark, 

this  'neglected  child  of  genius,'  is  guilty  of  the  grossest  impudence 
in  appropriating  lines  from  Collins'  famous  Ode,  to  support  in  the 
most  unconnected  manner  his  own  ineffable  nonsense."  Thus 
wofully  affected  is  this  precious  specimen  of  a  literary  gag,  to 
whom  the  Ode  of  Collins  is  —  very  sacred.  "  Could  anything,"  he 
asks,  "  be  more  audacious  ? "  Yes,  my  very  fine  fellow,  the 
travesty  of  Hamlet ;  and  the  setting  you  up  on  any  paper  as  a  critic, 
who  ought  to  be  set  down  as  a  jack-a-napes.  Further,  says  the 
fellow  :  "  What  an  exquisite  ear  has  our  sweet  poet  Adolphus,  who 
rhymes  "door"  to  "law,"  and  "overmuch"  to  "untouched," 
"  came  "  to  "  rain,"  "  sweat  "  to  "  heat,"  "  own"  to  foam,"  "  bah ! 
ha!  "  to  "  her."  This  point  reached  in  his  review  of  my  book,  he 
stops  to  say  it  is  time  he  should  forbear,  and  I  should  say  so,  too. 
He  remarks  that  he  would  not  clog  his  readers'  appetites  with  too 
many  sweets.  What  a  considerate  jack-a-napes,  to  be  sure  !  and  yet 
such  a  sweet  meat  as  he,  is  constantly  being  commended  to  their 
appetites  through  his  office  of  blackguard  and  critic.  But  he  can 
not,  it  seems,  resist  the  temptation  to  say  a  word  as  to  the  poem, 
"  George  Eliot's  Grave,"  where  it  is  written,  — 

"And  if  she  lived  as  she  believed, 
Who  ill  should  speak  of  her  remains." 

This,  it  would  appear,  "  is  calculated  to  make  him  cry,  until  he 
laughs,  were  it  not  so  much  better  calculated  to  make  him  laugh, 
until  he  cries."  Was  there,  I  would  ask,  any  thing  ever  written  by 
one  of  the  "intellectual  people"  quite  so  lubberly  as  this?  "  A 
passage  so  thrilling,  puts  him  in  mind,"  he  tells  us, — -"forcibly 
of  a  clergyman  out  West,  —  not  East,  North  or  South,  but  in  the 
traditional  "  out  West  "  —  the  blockhead  it  seems  has'  to  go  a  long 
way  off  for  a  story —  "  who,"  continues  he,  "  when  once  officiating 
at  a  funeral  very  gravely  said,  My  friends,  we  will  now  unite  in 
singing  the  hymn  beginning  —  "  Awake  my  soul  and  witli  the  sun," 
as  it  was  a  very  favorite  hymn  with  the  remains." 

Having  fired  this  very  brilliant  piece  of  wit  off  at  me,  with  the 
assistance  of  "  out  West,"  he  appears  to  feel  some  better ;  and  gig- 


NOTE.  103 

gling,  tells  his  readers,  he  had  marked  several  passages  for  quota 
tion  of  the  like  richly  imaginative  sort.  But  he  thinks  enough  has 
been  said  to  indicate  the  treat  that  is  in  store  for  anybody  who  may 
purchase  and  read  this  book,  which  Heaven  grant  no  one  may  be 
so  unwise  as  to  do.  With  commendable  prudence  the  author  has 
duly  copyrighted  his  volume,  and  it  is  published  by  the  Poet  him 
self." 

After  giving  me  all  this  spite,  he  subsides :  he  thinks  he 
has  run  his  reckless,  dirty,  and  dastardly  pen  far  enough 
into  my  sensibilities.  Behind  the  much  vaunted  "  privilege 
of  the  press  "  he  skulks  for  safety ;  yet  his  hide  is  not  worth 
the  tanning,  nor  his  scalp  worth  the  taking  —  who  would  engage 
for  either  job  ?  That  any  important  department  of  a  newspaper 
should  be  in  the  hands  of  such  a  blackguard,  is  to  be  deplored 
exceedingly;  and  it  is  puzzling  to  understand  how  such  manage 
ment  can  be  made  to  pay.  Here  is  a  wretch,  who  makes  a  wanton, 
and  unjustifiable  assault  upon  me,  as  an  author,  because  I  have  not 
seen  fit  to  propitiate  his  good  will,  by  some  subserviency  to  his 
office  of  so-called  critic,  which  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  practising, 
even  with  those  who  could  do  me  far  greater  services  than  the 
most  influential  and  soundest  of  critics  — •  then  how  could  I  possibly 
pay  court  to  this  Commonwealth  literary  gag  i  Were  I  a  citizen 
of  that  sort,  I  should,  no  doubt,  have  many  more  friends ;  but,  I 
prefer  to  get  along  with  less  friends,  and  more  self-respect,  more 
manhood. 

The  stupid,  disgusting  balderdash,  which  has  been  hurled  at  me,  so 
unsparingly,  malignantly,  and  remorselessly,  indicates  a  very  wrong 
condition  of  morals  and  of  manners  in  the  direction  from  whence 
it  canie.  It  explains  itself  clearly,  however  ;  every  one  must  sec  no 
better  treatment  was  bargained  and  paid  for,  then  what  else  had  I 
to  expect  ?  It  is  hardly  possible  for  one  capable  of  getting  up  any 
sort  of  a  book,  be  it  in  verse  or  prose,  say  a  12mo.  428  pages,  with 
out  there  being  on  some  one  page  or  other  something  worthy 
of  compliment,  though  it  be  but  slight :  yet,  this  Boston  Common 
wealth  scapegrace  left  his  readers  to  suppose,  I  had  written  and 
published  a  volume  of  verse  of  which  not  one  word  of  praise  would 
be  justifiable.  Is  it  a  matter  of  wonder  then,  that  against  such 


104-  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

unjust  and  unkind  treatment  of  the  Press,  I  am  roused  to  com 
plaint. 

The  annals  of  Letters  give  us  many  sorrowful  instances,  where 
the  envenomed  fang  of  some  brutal  unprincipled  reviewer,  has 
"laid  out"  the  brightest  geniuses  ere  they  had  become  strongly 
enough  entrenched  in  public  favor,  to  successfully  meet  and  sur 
vive  the  terrible  annoyance  of  unsparing  ridicule,  vilification,  and 
abuse — putting,  finally,  their  heels  upon  these  reptiles  and  mash 
ing  them.  We  all  know  how  deeply  they  planted  their  stings  into 
the  sensibilities  of  Byron,  Pope,  Addison,  and  others,  who  turned 
upon  them  with  a  power  of  self-defence  and  protection  which  saved 
them  from  being  destroyed.  But  such  capacity  in  authors  to  meet 
and  overcome  a  pack  of  malignant  critics  is  rare,  indeed.  In  general 
the  rule  is,  to  try  and  not  incur  their  hostility;  but,  if  assailed  to 
patiently  bear  the  assaults  and  survive  them,  if  possible.  Happily 
for  authorship,  there  are  among  the  professional  critics,  always 
some  who  will  insist  that  justice  shall  be  done  authors,  and  when  it 
is  seen  that  any  one  of  them  is  being  persecuted,  and  written  down 
from  the  sheer  love  of  cruelty,  true  to  the  instincts  of  manhood 
and  humanity,  these  lovers  of  fair  play  do  their  very  best  to  defend 
an  author  so  misused,  whom  venomous  sneak  critics,  and 
literary  vermin,  would  disgust  with  their  evil  spirit  and  black 
guardism,  and  finallv  destroy.  For  the  honorable  and  high-toned 
members  of  the  profession  of  Critic,  I  have  nothing  but  kindly 
words  and  feelings;  their  notices  of  my  publications  have  always 
been  fair:  and  while  they  have  pointed  out  what  could  have  been 
better  done,  they  have  been  courteous  in  their  dispraise ;  and  cordially 
have  recognized  whatever  there  was  of  merit  to  note.  As  gentlemen, 
critics  truly,  they  do  not  forget  in  their  ardor  of  attack  upon  what 
ever  is  faulty  or  reprehensible  in  an  author,  to  be  at  the  same  time 
strictly  just. 

I  might  lay  before  the  reader  several  more  low-bred  notices 
of  "  Tlic  Lost  Love,"  but  will  simply  say,  none  are  more  of 
fensive  than  those  named,  while  some  arc  fully  up  to  that  standard, 
and  others  nearly  so.  But  I  would  not  omit  allusion  to  a  notice  of  my 
self  by  a  correspondent  of  the  "  Boston  Saturday  Evening  Gazette," 
of  Nov.  15th,  1881,  signing  himself  ''Frank/in."  What  Franklin 


NOTE.  105 

he  can  mean  I  know  not,  but  if  he  has  adopted  as  his  incognito 
the  name  of  the  great  American  Scientist  and  Statesman,  Franklin, 
the  sooner  he  drops  it  the  better,  taking  iu  its  stead  some  other 
disguise.  Here  is  what  he  published  of  me,  as  a  memory  of  Latin 
School  days:  "There  were  two,"  says  he,  "would  be  bullies  in 
my  day;  one  was  William  Adolphus  Clark,  the  cracked  brain  Poet, 
and  author  of  Anisctus.  lie  was  abusing  some  of  the  boys  and 
stealing  their  marbles,  when  Haliburton  stepped  up  and  settled  his 
hash  in  short  Border." 

It  will  be  observed  here  with  what  elegance  this  "Franklin" 
writes — •  "  settled  his  hash  in  short  order," —  and  to  be  found,  too,  in 
the  columns  of  that  sweet-scented  sheet  —  the  "  Saturday  Evening 
Gazette,"  which  pretends  to  be  exceedingly  nice  in  the  choice  of 
its  language  and  its  friends.  But  to  continue  with  this  fellow's 
slang :  "  Clark  gave  the  boys  their  allies,  as  Haliburton  said  to  him, 
"  Don't  let  me  sec  you  do  that  again,  or  I  will  give  you  another 
taste  of  the  pump,  and  put  your  head  in  chancery."  This  was 
sufficient :  Clark  subsided." 

Then  he  goes  on  to  tell  what  he  remembers  of  the  other  bully, 
one  Henry  T.  Davis ;  or,  would-be  bully,  as  he  designates  him. 

When  my  attention  was  called,  by  a  friend,  to  what  this  vulgar 
and  abusive  correspondent  had  written  of  me,  I  must  confess  to 
some  surprise,  that  anything  just  in  that  kind  of  style  should  appear 
in  the  "  Gazette,"  claiming  to  be  a  very  clean  thing,  and  the 
leading  literary  weak-ly  Journal  of  New  England.  I  should  have 
missed  all  knowledge  of  this  "  personal,"  had  not  my  attention 
been  thus  called  to  it ;  since,  for  a  long  time  I  have  studiously 
avoided  all  contact  with  that  paper,  and  have  never  looked  into 
it,  even  for  an  advertisement.  It  is  altogether  too  much  of  a 
tceak-]y,  too  "  previous"  for  me;  too,  too,  much  of  a  swagger.  Its 
u'it  and  personals  have  very  much  the  same  effect  upon  the  mind 
that  an  emetic  has  on  the  stomach  —  it  makes  one  heave. 

As  "  Franklin  "  earnestly  invites  us  to  reminiscences,  I  would 
state  the  memory  is  vivid  with  me,  that  in  those  old  Latin  School 
days  the  character  of  this  paper  was  so  flimsy,  that  it  was  generally 
known  as  the  "  Chambermaid's  Gazette ; "  and  among  us  boys  was 
rarely  called  by  any  other  name ;  nor,  according  to  my  way  of 


106  INTELLECTUAL    PEOPLE. 

thinking,  is  it  any  less  flimsy  a  publication  now,  than  it  was  then. 
As  it  has  a  so-called  Colonel  for  its  Editor,  it  ought  to  be  of  some 
account;  yet,  I  cannot,  nor  can  very  many  others,  sec  that  it  is. 
As  I  had  been  published  in  this  paper,  as  a  bully,  cracked  brain, 
and  a  thief,  by  one  of  its  low  ilung  correspondents,  I  wrote  this 
gallant  Colonel-editor,  remonstrating-  against  such  abusive  and 
unlawful  treatment,  mailing  the  same  to  him,  and  requesting, 
as  a  matter  of  simple  justice,  that  he  should  publish  what  I  sent 
him  in  my  defence;  but  he  was  not  man  enough,  nor  Colonel 
enough  to  do  so.  One  is  led  naturally  to  enquire  what  such  a  brave, 
and  fair-minded  fellow  is,  or  was  ever  a  Colonel  of?  and  if  he  ever 
set  a  squadron  in  the  field,  or  charged  a  blazing  battery  ?  And  the 
response  comes :  "Ha!  ha!  he  charge  a  blazing  battery,  or  set  a 
squadron  in  the  field  ~:  no,  no  ;  his  forte  lies  altogether  in  another 
way  than  in  such  military  work;  and  that  is,  in  securing  and 
enjoying  a  military  title  without  any  risk  of  life  or  limb.  There 
are  plenty  of  such  titled  men  splurging  around,  who  would  be 
titlcless  had  it  been  necessary  for  them  upon  the  bloody  field  of 
battle,  to  have  won  their  distinction." 

This  response  seemed  to  me  so  exactly  true  and  proper ;  and  so 
precisely  in  accord  with  my  own  observation  of  titles;  that  I  at 
once  accepted  it,  as  the  very  thing  to  say. 

In  my  defence,  which  was  denied  publication  in  the  "  Gazette," 
I  said  I  was  neither  the  author  of  "  Aimetus,  nor  did  I  know  of  any 
such  a  work ;  nor  did  I  think  any  one  else  knew.  To  my  early 
works,  I  said  I  affixed  the  notn  de  plume  of  Anicctus  not  Anisetus 
and  this  was  the  whole  matter.  As  for  the  story  about  my  bullying 
boys  and  stealing  their  marbles,  and  getting  pumped  on  for  my  con 
duct,  followed  by  a  threat  of  being  pumped  on  again,  if  I  dared 
repeat  the  offence,  I  said,  this  story  was  all  a  fiction,  and  I  wanted 
somebody's  word  besides  "  Franklin's/'  before  I  would  distrust  my 
own  memory  as  to  those  long  by-gone  days,  and  the  point  at  issue. 
I  said,  I  could  remember  nothing  of  the  kind;  and  I  did  not  believe 
any  creditable  person  could.  As  to  the  charge  made,  that  I  am  a 
cracked  brain  poet,  I  said  that  is  a  mere  matter  of  opinion :  and 
where  there  arc  so  main'  cranks  around  in  these  "  intellectual 
times,"  it  is  a  question  if  they  who  charge  crank  upon  others,  arc 


NOTE.  107 

not  themselves  even  more  insane.  Yet,  though  1  had  a  right  to  be 
heard  in  answer  to  this  libellous,  vulgar,  reckless  correspondent, 
yet,  no  hearing  was  granted  me,  nor  was  my  communication  even 
acknowledged.  And  why  ?  Because,  had  my  reply  to  "  Franklin  " 
in  full  appeared  in  the  "  Gazette,"  it  would  have  exhibited  in  so 
clear  a  light  the  meanness  of  all  concerned  in  this  godless,  grace 
less,  lying  personal,  it  would  have  added  nothing  to  its  good  name. 
Xot  being  allowed  to  defend  myself  in  the  paper  which  assailed 
me,  I  asked  the  privilege  of  addressing  "  Franklin  "  in  one  of  the 
leading  papers;  but  the  Editor  said,  "  how  could  you  suppose  we 
would  have  anything  to  do  with  this  dirty  business  of  the  Gazette." 
"  Yes,"  I  replied  "  it  is  indeed  a  dirty  business  enough,  nor  should 
I  take  any  notice  of  it,  but  for  the  fact,  that  I  don't  like  to  be  lied 
about,  even  by  blackguards."  "  You  should  insist,"  said  the  Editor, 
"  upon  being  heard  in  the  paper  that  abused  and  libelled  you ;  and 
failing,  should  fall  back  upon  the  courts.  Now,  as  to  being  heard 
in  the  "  Gazette,"  it  was  evident  the  Colonel  did  not  intend  that 
I  should  be,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  not  to  press  for  the  right; 
and  as  to  the  courts,  whoever  resorted  to  them  with  any  such  a  case 
as  mine,  and  obtained  any  satisfaction  worth  the  trouble  and  ex 
pense  of  suit. 

It,  therefore,  must  be,  if  persons  are  insulted,  libelled,  and  lied 
about  by  the  "gentlemen  of  the  Press,"  and  they  want  satisfaction 
for  the  injury,  they  must  get  it  out  of  these  gentlemen's  hides,  or 
not  get  it  at  all,  if  only  one's  self-love  is  affected.  But  to 
get  satisfaction  out  of  such  fellows'  hides,  is  often  to  give  them  an 
advantage  in  law  which  the  aggrieved  party  cannot  always  afford  to 
do.  In  visiting  with  personal  chastisement  u  blackguard  and 
libeller,  rogue  and  liar,  the  very  satisfaction  which  is  sought  gives 
only,  too  often,  the  greater  satisfaction  to  the  mean  contemptible 
wretch  who  is  chastised.  So  that  there  seems  to  be  no  better  way 
than  to  treat  with  silent  contempt,  people  who  have  no  more  man 
hood  than  to  play  the  sneak,  the  blackguard,  libeller,  and  liar;  and 
when  they  come  in  one's  presence  to  turn  from  them  promptly,  as 
we  should  from  those  infected  with  the  most  loathsome  disease. 
But  should  they  become  insufferably  annoying,  then,  if  the  law  will 
give  to  the  sufferer  no  proper  defence  from  the  insufferable  uui- 


108  INTELLECTUAL     PEOPLE. 

sance,  nothing  remains  but  lor  persons   so  annoyed,  to  protect 
and  defend  themselves  by  all  the  man  there  is  in  them. 

I  would  not  omit  to  state  that  I  wrote  to  ray  old  schoolfellow. 
Alfred  F.  Ilaliburton  (when  I  had  learned  of  his  whereabouts), 
asking  what  he  remembered  as  true  of  this  story  of  "  Franklin's," 
and  he  replied,  he  remembered  only  the  circumstances,  but  could 
not  recall  to  mind  who  the  boy  was  he  checked  as  a  bully.  Sure  I 
am,  that  he  never  checked  me.  I  think  had  I  been  the  boy  he  put 
the  indignity  upon,  as  stated,  he  would  have  received  in  return 
for  his  rudeness  such  a  Roland  for  an  Oliver,  that  his  recollection 
of  me  would  be  very  distinct,  as  the  boy  who  got  the  pump  —  he 
would  neither  have  forgotten  my  person  or  my  name.  I  was  not 
in  the  habit  in  those  days,  any  more  than  I  am  now,  of  allowing 
anybody  to  take  unpardonable  and  indecent  liberties  with  my 
person.  And  they  who  remember  me  as  a  boy,  whatever  their 
recollections  may  be  of  that  long  ago,  will  not,  I  feel  very  sure, 
charge  that  I  was  either  a  sneak,  a  bully,  a  coward,  or  a  thief.  If 
there  are  any  such  memories  of  me,  they  are  by  my  enemies,  who 
can,  probably,  always  remember  a  good  deal  more  than  ever  hap 
pened  of  those  they  dislike,  whenever  it  suits  their  humor  to  do  so. 
But  it  is  indeed  amusing  to  read  this  fellow  "  Franklin's  "  condem 
nation  of  the  Latin  School  bullies,  and  tell-tales,  and  thieves  of  his 
day,  when  he  himself  is  the  meanest  kind  of  a  tell-tale  and  sneak 
bully;  and,  no  doubt,  if  his  record  could  be  investigated,  it  would 
show  him  to  have  stolen,  oft  and  again,  things  of  more  value  than 
marbles,  more  priceless  than  rubies.  He  is  the  meanest  kind  of  a 
tell-tale,  inasmuch  as  he  went  to  the  public  with  stories  discredit 
able  to  the  characters  of  his  schoolfellows,  some  of  whom  arc  not 
living  to  defend  themselves,  as  I  am  defending  myself  against  his 
calumny  and  fiction ;  and  even  if  what  he  pretends  to  remember  is 
in  fact  true,  who  but  a  low-spirited  fellow  would  parade  in  the 
columns  of  a  newspaper  anything  to  the  disparagement  of  one  who 
was  the  companion  of  his  boyhood,  or  merely  a  schoolmate  ?  He 
is  the  meanest  kind  of  a  sneak  bully,  inasmuch  as  he  strikes  those 
who,  dead,  cannot  strike  back;  or  living,  may  from  a  prudential 
conservatism,  fail  to  do  so.  lie  strikes,  too,  under  a  guise.  No 
body  knows,  of  whom  I  have  inquired,  who  this  sneak  bully  cor- 


109 


respondent  of  the  "  Gazette  "  is.  "  Franklin  "  is  something  very 
indefinite.  If  he  was  ever  christened,  why  does  he  not  give  us  his 
identity.  Such  a  beauty  should  not  remain  concealed.  I  have  now 
done  with  those  who  have  had  to  do  with  me,  misrepresenting, 
vilifying,  and  insulting  me  in  the  most  wanton  and  uncalled  for 
manner;  instigated,  no  doubt,  in  part  by  their  mistresses  —  a  class 
of  creatures  who  have  no  reason  whatever  to  admire  some  pages 
between  the  covers  of  "The  Lost  Love,"  which  reflect  upon  the 
way  they  have  of  getting  in  with  soft-headed  swains,  and  keeping 
in  until  they  have  used  them  up,  when  they  go  on  in  their  artful 
hcartlessness  and  depravity,  until  death  shall  put  an  end  to  all  further 
enterprise  in  "  doing  "  soft  heads  and  soft  hearts. 

Doubtless  it  will  be  thought  and  said  by  many,  the  more  dignified 
and  sensible  course  for  me  to  have  taken,  would  have  been  to  have 
treated  with  silent  contempt  all  these  blackguards ;  but  some,  at 
least,  who  counsel  thus  do  not  know  what  the  trouble,  labor,  and 
expense  is  of  putting  before  the  public  a  literary  work,  and  the 
aggravation  it  is  to  the  author,  to  have  that  public  falsely  told  by 
so-called  critics,  whose  book  notices  it  is  more  or  less  influenced 
by,  that  said  work  is  worthless  and  not  worth  attention.  Could 
people  in  general  know  of  such  experience,  they  would  understand 
far  better  why  it  is,  I  take  extreme  delight  in  such  a  note  to  my 
present  work  as  this,  and  why  it  is,  that  I  would  if  I  could,  drive 
every  one  of  these  literary  scoundrels  and  vampires  out  of  every 
civilized  community  in  which  they  dared  show  their  heads. 

"  Intellectual  people,"  indeed  !  Such  culture  is  doing  more  harm 
than  good  the  world  over;  and  what  reason  I  have  to  write,  as  I  do 
of  it,  I  trust  in  a  measure  has  been  made  plain.  I  certainly  could 
wish  that  an  education  might  insure  good  morals,  at  least ;  sincere 
friendships,  and  the  noblest  efforts  for  social  advancement;  that 
•'  the  gentlemen  of  the  Press  "  might  be  truly  gentlemen,  who 
would  suffer  no  abuse  of  citizens  in  their  papers;  and  when  injury 
is  done  any  one  by  an  assault  therein,  give  them  willingly  a  chance 
to  reply  to  assailants.  I  could  further  wish  the  religion  of  Christ 
might  be  made  the  foundation  of  all  social  and  business  life,  and 
that  mankind  would  deal  kindly  and  honorably  by  each  other;  I 
could  wish  that  Law,  its  character,  administration  and  practice, 


110  INTELLECTUAL    PEOPLE. 


might  be  made  a  blessing  instead  of  a  crying  evil,  and  too  often  an 
absolute  curse,  to  citizens.  I  could  and  do  heartily  wish  all  this  for 
the  best  good  of  my  fellow  man ;  but  how  unpromising  the  prospect, 
that  a  true  manhood  and  womanhood,  will  ever  govern  the  world, 
and  the  intercourse  of  mankind,  before  Christ  shall  come  again 
and  the  Holy  Laud,  redeemed  from  its  desolation,  shall  blossom  as 
the  rose. 

Surely,  the  cultured  classes  should  be  able  to  answer  the  question, 
when  will  "  Intellectual  People  "  show  themselves  to  be  any  c*pc- 
cial  improvement,  as  to  human  nature,  over  those  who  are  not 
classed  as  "  intellectual  ?  "  But,  instead  of  being  able  to  answer 
it,  they  simply  smile  incredulously  at  any  suggestion,  even,  that 
the  most  complete  development  of  the  human  intellect,  can  in  itself 
establish,  a  happy  condition  of  life  in  any  of  the  grades  of  mankind. 
Some  of  them,  certainly,  have  sense  enough  to  know,  that  the  Scrip 
tures  aud  their  teaching,  which  are  the  oracles  of  God,  alone  c::n 
do  that,  as  a  sincere  faith ;  yet,  they  are  witness,  that  this  divine 
Word  and  assistance  is  being  largely  by  Culture  undervalued  and 
ignored,  as  something  not  proved  to  be  of  "  any  more  account  as 
from  God,  than  any  other  ancient  writings."  Where,  then,  arc  we 
drifting,  and  what  is  Culture,  as  a  real  spiritual  and  social  blessing 
worth,  if  it  docs  not  produce  more  godly,  amiable,  and  charming 
men  and  women,  more  just  and  generous  because  of  what  they 
know,  —  in  a  word,  because  of  their  "  superior  advantages." 

If  knowledge  docs  not  make  lives  more  beautiful,  high  toned, 
honorable,  and  fascinating  in  every  way,  — •  more  religious  and 
helpful  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and,  consequent!}7,  the  more  worthy 
of  Heaven,  of  what  absolute  advantage  is  culture  (and  the  immense 
expenditure  of  money,  time,  and  patience  upon  it)  to  the  best  moral 
and  social  good  of  mankind  r  In  the  judgment  of  the  writer,  if  li  a 
high  order  of  education  "  gives,  as  its  product,  a  large  crop  every 
year  of  irreverence  and  irrcligion,  atheism  and  infidelity,  insutYcr- 
ablc  vanity,  self-conceit,  hcartlcssness,  meanness,  and  hypocrisy 
'tis  far  better  people  should  study  and  kflow  less,  and  love  and  wor 
ship  the  divine  in  Scripture  more. 


DATE  DUE 


°00544  694 


